Kingdom of Denmark, 1969

78. Madam President, allow

me to congratulate you on your election as our President.

In the exercise of the functions of your high office you will

be able to draw on the extensive and valuable experience

which you have gained through your many years of service

to the United Nations, I assure you of my delegation’s full

co-operation.

79. Preceding speakers in this debate have not failed to

point out that if we contemplate the international picture

of today there is much reason for concern. War and

hostilities, with their inescapable consequences of human

suffering and destruction, are raging in South-East Asia, in

the Middle East and in West Africa. Internal turmoil has

visited many countries. Oppression and violations of human

rights and liberties occur in many parts of the world.

Poverty and even hunger are the order of the day in a world

of larger than ever resources; and let us not forget that the

reality behind this general description is the suffering and

want of the individual, of the family, of the group.

80. The conflict in Nigeria is continuing unabated. We are

faced with a tragedy of incomprehensible dimensions.

Famine and deficiency diseases are taking a heavy toll

among innocent people and even children. Although the

sufferings of the civilian population have assumed alarming

proportions, it has not been possible, despite the most

strenuous efforts, to establish a permanent arrangement

with regard to the humanitarian relief work.

81. As in the past, Denmark is making every possible

effort to assist in the aid programmes for the distressed

civilians in the afflicted areas on either side of the front

line. We continue to direct our attention and our efforts

towards the humanitarian problems. The Danish people,

deeply moved by the sufferings of their fellow beings in

Nigeria, have followed with undiminished and profound

sympathy the plight of the victims of the conflict in that

country. As a result voluntary contributions to the relief

work continue to be forthcoming on an unprecedented scale.

82. My Government has often addressed itself to the

imperative need for all those involved in the conflict to

co-operate fully and actively with the international organizations

which are engaged in the relief effort. I take this

opportunity of renewing our appeal to all concerned to

ensure such co-operation.

83. We have followed with close interest the efforts

carried out through the Organization of African Unity with

a view to solving the Nigerian conflict. We acknowledge

that this organization is especially qualified to help to

provide a basis for a negotiated solution. Consequently, we

shall continue to give our full support to mediation efforts

through the Organization of African Unity and other

channels particularly well suited for bringing about contact

and negotiation between the parties. By the same token I

must repeat that, in our view, an arms embargo might have

assisted these efforts and we find it most regrettable that

outside countries have not refrained from supplying weapons.

84. In Europe during the past year no real progress has

been seen towards finding a solution to crucial political

problems. None of us have forgotten the serious events in

Czechoslovakia immediately before the last session of the

General Assembly and subsequent events have occupied our

minds. Notwithstanding the impact of these events on

conditions for a détente in Europe, the only way of

obtaining a true détente is to continue the dialogue

between East and West. My country will therefore pursue a

policy designed to bring about meaningful discussions

between East and West — at bilateral or multilateral levels

— on subjects which appear to be ripe for solution.

85. The ideal of convening a conference to discuss

European security problems is still attracting considerable

attention in the international debate. Denmark supports

this idea as one of the appropriate methods of promoting

détente and co-operation. It is essential that the United

States and Canada should take part in the work from the

very beginning and it is equally essential that the preparations

should reveal that such a conference or conferences

would have reasonable prospects of achieving results in the

areas selected for discussion.

86. After some years of regrettable stalemate in European

integration, there is again some auspicious movement. The

Foreign Minister of France, Mr. Maurice Schumann, when

addressing this Assembly last week, said about the Common

Market:

“There are numerous applications for associate and

even full membership, and it is not only conceivable but

eminently desirable that they may succeed.” [1763rd

meeting, para. 56.]

87. My country has consistently supported efforts taken

towards European integration as a matter of high priority in

our foreign policy. It remains the wish of Denmark to

obtain full membership in the Common Market together

with other countries which have applied for such membership

and we shall continue to direct our efforts towards

that goal. Together with other Nordic countries, we are at

present examining the possibilities of an extended Nordic

economic co-operation, not as an alternative to our basic

goal — membership of the Common Market — but as a means

of improving the conditions under which Nordic countries

may participate in the building of Europe.

88. The situation in the Middle East continues to be a

cause for concern. There has been no progress made

towards a political solution, and military actions and

counteractions as well as acts of violence within and outside

the area are causing death and destruction and are a

constant source of tension. In order to promote constructive

developments it is essential that this vicious circle of

violence is broken, and all the parties to the conflict should

therefore direct their urgent attention to this end.

89. We deeply regret that a political solution on the basis

of the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967

[242 (1967)] has not yet been achieved. It is the duty of

all parties to the conflict to co-operate actively and in good

faith with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General,

Ambassador Jarring, in the performance of his task

under the resolution. In this context we welcome the

consultation between permanent members of the Security

Council undertaken with a view to strengthening Mr. Jarring’s-hand.

90. Turning to the humanitarian aspects of the situation in

the Middle East, I should like to stress that my country

considers it highly important that international human

solidarity be translated into practical and humanitarian

action. Denmark has, therefore, over the years rendered

substantial and increasing contributions to the activities of

UNRWA, with special emphasis on the Agency’s educational

and training programmes.

91. When last year the United States decided to discontinue

all bombings of North Viet-Nam the Danish Government

stated that a decisive step had been taken towards

transferring the conflict in Viet-Nam from the battlefield to

the negotiating table. Like everybody else, we were, of

course, most gratified when subsequently the talks now

going on in Paris were initiated. We agree with the

Secretary-General that, although these talks have not

produced any conclusive results so far, the very fact that all

the parties involved in the conflict are engaged in these

discussions is a most important step in the right direction.

We remain convinced that only through negotiation can a

settlement be brought about.

92. The Government of the United States recently

announced its decision to carry out certain troop withdrawals

from Viet-Nam. In our opinion, measures of this

kind reflect the right trend. It is our fervent hope that the

parties involved will show flexibility and make the necessary

concessions that will give the severely afflicted

Viet-Namese people hope for a future in peace.

93. When hostilities cease, concerted and large-scale

efforts must be made to relieve the distress of the civilian

population and to rebuild Viet-Nam. As already mentioned

by my Swedish colleague [1757th meeting], the Nordic

countries are conducting investigations concerning what

part they can play in such endeavours.

94. As for the situation in southern Africa, it is deeply

regrettable that the General Assembly is again convening

without a solution having been found to the problems

emanating from the racial and colonial policies pursued by

the Governments in power in that part of the world. My

country’s position with regard to the policy of apartheid of

the Government of South Africa, to the policy of that

Government vis-a-vis the former Mandated Territory of

Namibia, to the illegal régime in Salisbury and to the

colonial policies of Portugal remains unchanged. We are

deeply concerned about the reprehensible policy of

apartheid not only because of the political dangers involved

but also because of the fundamental moral issue. We

continue to insist that the colonial problems I have

mentioned should be solved through strict application of

the principle of self-determination, thus honouring the

inalienable right of the peoples of those Territories to shape

their own national destiny.

95. In this connexion I would suggest that developments

during the past year strongly indicate that if the international

community as organized in the United Nations is

to exert any real influence on these various problems it

must be through concerted action based on meaningful

support from the membership.

96. My country has scrupulously endeavoured to observe

and implement the mandatory measures adopted by the

Security Council with respect to Southern Rhodesia and

the arms embargo called for by the Security Council in

relation to South Africa. We shall certainly go on doing so,

not only because of our moral and legal obligations in the

questions at issue but also because, looking at the matter in

a wider perspective, the very United Nations system of

peaceful enforcement might be at stake. It is deplorable

that a few countries have failed to honour their commitments

in those respects under the Charter.

97. The problems related to disarmament are global; they

are at the same time of a highly complicated technical

nature. If, therefore, the consideration of these problems is

to be meaningful there must be a combination of involvement

of the entire international community with discussion

in a more limited and technically highly qualified and well

equipped forum. With the annual deliberations in this

General Assembly and the continuous efforts of the

Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva,

we thus have the necessary international institutional

framework. We share the opinion expressed by the Secretary-General

that it is of the highest importance that all five

nuclear Powers are associated with the negotiations for

disarmament. Meanwhile we welcome the enlargement of

the Conference in Geneva. We are confident that it will not

only benefit the work of the Conference but also serve to

strengthen the ties to the world Organization.

98. Admittedly, tangible results have not so far been

achieved in the disarmament field since the twenty-third

session of the General Assembly. It is true that since then a

number of States have ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation

of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII)].

However, as long as the Treaty has not been

signed and ratified by the principal nuclear-weapon Powers

and by other States with a potential nuclear capability, it

cannot fulfil its purpose. Moreover, it is to be feared that a

further delay in the entry into force of the Treaty would

entail the risk that the efforts to halt the proliferation of

nuclear weapons would prove futile because of the rapid

technological development. The Government of Denmark

therefore hopes that the Powers which, by virtue of their

international position and importance, have a special

responsibility in these matters will accede to the Treaty

without further delay.

99. It is gratifying that contact has been resumed between

the two great nuclear Powers on the opening of negotiations

for the limitation of offensive and defensive nuclear

weapon systems. It is of crucial importance for further

progress in the disarmament field in general that the

negotiations should get under way as soon as possible and

that they should produce results within a foreseeable

future. Failing that, there is a danger of an acceleration of

the arms race with all its possible implications for

international stability.

100. It is still too early to say whether the intensive

negotiations in Geneva on concrete disarmament measures

will lead to results. But the negotiations have reflected a

genuine will to move ahead on the path to disarmament.

The Danish Government therefore trusts that it will prove

possible for the Conference to submit to this Assembly a

draft treaty on the demilitarization of the sea-bed and to

suggest practicable solutions concerning a complete test-ban

treaty and to the prohibition of the development, stockpiling

and use of bacteriological and chemical weapons in warfare.

101. With regard to the question of the representation of

China, it remains the position of the Danish Government

that only the People’s Republic of China is entitled to

represent China in the United Nations.

102. Now I should like to make a few observations of a

general nature on economic development and the activities

of the United Nations in this area. One of the most

important tasks for the United Nations is to secure the

success of the Second United Nations Development Decade.

To achieve this, it is necessary to establish an effective

co-ordination of all efforts. While the principal responsibility

for promoting economic development clearly lies

with the developing countries themselves, the industrialized

world must give its full support to the concept of concerted

action underlying an international strategy for development.

103. It is important that there should be clearly defined

areas of action for the organizations involved, in particular

the United Nations itself, the World Bank Group, the

United Nations Development Programme and the United

Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Their

contributions should be included in specified programmes

of action taking into account the commitments which the

industrialized countries have already accepted in these

organizations.

104. While planning for the Second United Nations

Development Decade, we should in no way reduce the pace

of the efforts in which we are already engaged. I think, in

particular, of the system of general preferences in favour of

the developing countries. Denmark, in close co-operation

with the other Nordic countries, has taken an active part in

the deliberations within the Organization for Economic

Co-operation and Development on shaping the main features

of such a system of preferences. The preference

scheme would be valuable in bringing the trade in manufactured

goods from the developing countries in an effective

and orderly manner into the present system of world trade.

My Government hopes that the negotiations ahead, though

undoubtedly difficult, will meet with success.

105. The important factor is, in our view, that the

planning for the Second Development Decade is carried out

in a spirit of partnership between the developed and the

developing countries and not in a spirit of confrontation.

The Danish Government is prepared, through the execution

of its long-term plans for co-operation with the developing

countries, to assist in making this process one of real

benefit to those countries.

106. I now turn to the, problems of the human environment.

The very name implies that this is a problem of

common concern to us all, in North and South, East and

West; it is a problem which should therefore be tackled

through a joint effort of all nations. Quite clearly, this is

one of the basic ideas behind and expressed in the

resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the

Economic and Social Council and in the report presented

by the Secretary-General to the Economic and Social

Council in the summer of 1969. The problem is urgent in

two ways. For the so-called highly developed countries it is

essential that the present dangerous trend should be halted

and reversed before we reach the point of no return; for

other countries it is equally essential that they should start

now to prevent their falling victim to similar mistakes and

that they should instead take advantage of the costly lesson

hopefully learned by the developed countries. As an

appropriate incentive to these endeavours, all countries

should keep in mind the words of the Secretary-General

that if current trends continue the future of life on earth

could be endangered.

107. We therefore consider that the initiative taken by the

Government of Sweden in this matter and the invitation to

hold the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human

Environment in Stockholm should be highly appreciated.

The Government of Denmark intends, within its resources,

to engage fully in the future international endeavours in

this matter and we shall contemplate what we might be able

to offer in the fields of research and experimentation.

108. The subject of United Nations peace-keeping operations

is another important question facing our Organization.

It was a hopeful sign when the twenty-third session of

the General Assembly decided [resolution 2451 (XXIII)]

to entrust the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations

with the task of preparing a comprehensive report on

United Nations military observers established or authorized

by the Security Council for observation purposes pursuant

to Council resolutions. Admittedly, the formulation of this

mandate reflected rather a restricted conception of the

United Nations peace-keeping activities but we consider it a

first step in the right direction and, as such, a satisfactory

development. Though much useful work has been accomplished

and some progress achieved during the deliberations

in the Special Committee, we cannot but feel some

disappointment that it has not as yet proved possible to

obtain comprehensive agreement about a full report on

military observers as called for in the resolution.

109. Considering the historical background of this specific

field of United Nations activities, I certainly do not wish to

minimize the difficulties involved in building a comprehensive

framework for United Nations peace-keeping activities;

nor shall I overlook the legitimate interests involved on all

sides. However, the Danish Government is of the opinion

that, while taking these basic observations into consideration,

we must press on for constructive achievements.

110. It is with satisfaction that we have learnt that

consultations are taking place among members of the

Special Committee concerning the character of a model on

United Nations operations involving military contingents.

111. Recently, incidents involving the hijacking of planes

and their diversion to unauthorized destinations have

attracted considerable attention and provoked justified

alarm and condemnation. Such irresponsible and criminal

acts present incalculable risks to international air traffic in

general, and to innocent passengers and crew members of

hijacked planes in particular. Urgent steps should therefore

be taken in an appropriate international context with a

view to preventing further acts of this kind.

112. I should like to make a few concluding remarks on a

specific subject of common interest. I refer to the observations

made by the Secretary-General in the introduction

to his annual report [A/7601/Add.1] concerning his

informal and confidential activity, sometimes covered by

the broad term “good offices”. I think that these observations

by the Secretary-General were both timely and pertinent.

Of course, he has a political role to play within

the framework and in accordance with the provisions of the

Charter. If governments ask the Secretary-General for help

in dealing with delicate problems that face them the

Secretary-General is competent under the Charter to

comply with such requests — and I would perhaps even go so

far as to say duty - bound to do so.

113. I wish to take this opportunity of assuring the

present holder of the high office, U Thant, of our full

confidence in him and our deep respect for the way in

which he discharges his many heavy responsibilities.