Mongolia, 1969

22. Madam President, distinguished Secretary-General, it is

indeed a great pleasure for me, on behalf of the delegation

of the Mongolian People’s Republic, warmly to congratulate

you as a representative of the great African continent

on your election to the office of President of the

twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly, and to wish

you success in carrying out the noble and responsible tasks

that have been entrusted to you.

23. The present world situation is marked by a struggle

between the forces of reaction and war, which are

noticeably intensifying their intrigues in various parts of the

world, and the forces of revolution and progress, headed by

the socialist community, which are consistently furthering

the cause of peace, democracy, national independence and

social progress. The peace-loving forces are doing everything

in their power to avert the threat of a new world war.

24. No appreciable improvement in the international

situation has been observed since the last session of the

General Assembly. Indeed, the world situation has deteriorated

considerably, owing to the aggressive policy of

imperialism. The threat to universal peace and the security

of nations has not yet been averted but, on the contrary,

has become graver. This is clearly confirmed by the

situation in South-East Asia and the Middle East, which

threatens world peace and security. This is also shown by

the recent alarming developments in Central Europe and in

certain other parts of the world.

25. In defining the objective and methods of imperialist

policy, Mr. Y. Tsedenbal, Chairman of the Council of

Ministers of the Mongolian People’s Republic, said in his

statement at the Moscow Conference of Communist and

Workers’ Parties on 13 June 1969:

“Resorting to the widest variety of means, including

provocation, counter-revolutionary conspiracy, reactionary

uprisings and armed intervention, imperialism is

trying to impose its policy on the peoples of the world by

force and artificiality to maintain constant tension in

international relations.”

26. The serious situation which now prevails makes it

urgently necessary for the United Nations to take really

practical measures on problems which are vitally important

for the future of the world and of mankind, such as the

strengthening of international security, development of

friendly co-operation between countries and peoples, the

final eradication of the vestiges of colonialism, the prompt

suppression of the intrigues of neo-colonialism, militarism

and neo-nazism, and general and complete disarmament. In

this connexion the delegation of the Mongolian People’s

Republic supports the new initiative taken by the Government

of the Soviet Union providing for a series of

constructive measures to strengthen international security,

and advocates the adoption by this session of the General

Assembly of the appeal to all States of the world, the draft

of which was introduced by Mr. A. A. Gromyko, Minister

for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist

Republics, on 19 September this year [A/7654]. Once

again the Soviet Union has drawn the attention of the

General Assembly and the world to the central problem of

modern international life.

27. As the representative of an Asian socialist country

which consistently pursues a policy of peace and co-operation

based on equal rights and good neighbourliness

towards the countries of this region and towards all States,

I should like to dwell in somewhat greater detail on the

situation in Asia and the Far East.

28. The problem of maintaining peace in Asia has always

been a matter of great concern to all peace-loving forces

and, above all, to the peoples of Asia. This is perfectly

comprehensible. The peoples of the Asian countries need a

stable peace which would ensure favourable conditions for

consolidation of their independence, achieved after a long

struggle, and for improvement of living conditions, elimination

of the harmful consequences of colonial rule, and

attainment of social and economic progress. It is perfectly

clear that the future of world peace largely depends on

whether or not peace is maintained in Asia.

29. Nevertheless, the situation in that part of the world is

marked by chronic instability and increasing tension.

30. The United States of America, in flagrant violation of

the Geneva Agreements on Viet-Nam, continues to wage a

bloody colonial war against the people of Viet-Nam, which

is being compelled to use armed force in defence of the

freedom, independence and unity of its country.

31. The courage and determination of the people of

Viet-Nam in its struggle against the most powerful imperialist

Power, the United States of America, are an inspiring

example to peoples battling for freedom and national

independence and against colonialist and imperialist enslavement.

32. At the Paris negotiations the United States side is

resorting to all kinds of delaying tactics and is rejecting the

constructive proposals of the representatives of the Democratic

Republic of Viet-Nam and the Provisional Revolutionary

Government of the Republic of South Viet-Nam

directed towards the political settlement of the Viet-Nam

problem. The Nixon Government, by deliberately drawing

out the Paris negotiations and representing as a peaceful

gesture the withdrawal of a negligible part of its troops

from South Viet-Nam, is trying to delude world public

opinion and to gain time in order to continue its barbarous

aggression. That is also the purpose served by the so-called

new Asian policy of the United States of America, so

widely publicized of late, which in fact represents nothing

but an attempt to legalize the “United States presence” in

Asia, to strengthen the tottering position of the puppet

regime in Saigon and similar regimes, and to strengthen the

role of the Asian military establishment in the struggle

against the national liberation movement in Asia.

33. Basic prerequisites for a political settlement of the

Viet-Nam problem are cessation of United States aggression,

unconditional withdrawal of the troops of the

interventionists and their henchmen from South Viet-Nam,

and an opportunity for the people of Viet-Nam to decide

its future for itself without external interference. The

problem can be solved only through unconditional recognition

of the inalienable rights of the people of Viet-Nam.

34. The legitimate claims of the people of Viet-Nam are

clearly expressed in the unswerving, position of the Government

of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and in the

comprehensive programme of the National Liberation

Front of South Viet-Nam and the Provisional Revolutionary

Government of the Republic of South Viet-Nam,

which enjoys great authority among the people of Viet-Nam

and wide support from world public opinion, the

proof of which is that it is already recognized by more than

twenty States.

35. The Government of the Mongolian People’s Republic

resolutely supports the just and constructive proposals of

fighting Viet-Nam. The Government of the Mongolian

People’s Republic and the Mongolian people have stood and

will stand firmly beside their brothers the people of

Viet-Nam and will continue to give them all possible

assistance in their struggle for peace in South-East Asia and

throughout the world against United States aggression.

36. United States aggression in Viet-Nam directly threatened

the freedom and independence of the peoples of Asia

and particularly the national sovereignty, territorial integrity

and security of the neighbouring countries of Laos

and Cambodia. Accordingly, consistent support of the

heroic and just struggle of the people of Viet-Nam serves

the vital cause of the defence and consolidation of the

independence and sovereignty of the countries of Asia. Any

assistance to United States aggression runs counter to these interests.

37. The Korean peninsula continues to be one of the

sources of international tension. This is confirmed by the

unceasing provocation of the United States Seoul side

against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in the

form of practically daily violations of the demarcation line

and the systematic penetration of United States intelligence

vessels and aircraft into its territorial waters and air space.

The situation is further aggravated by the fact that the

United States, having turned South Korea into a military

and strategic strongpoint for carrying out its aggressive

plans, is increasing its military power in South Korea, is

introducing large quantities of the most modern types of

weapons, and is forcing the South Korean army to rearm.

38. In order to eliminate this dangerous source of tension

and to give the Korean people an opportunity to settle its

domestic affairs without any interference from outside, it is

essential to bring about the immediate withdrawal from

South Korea of the United States occupation troops, whose

presence is unlawfully concealed behind the flag of our

Organization.

39. As we all know, the question of the withdrawal of

foreign troops from South Korea is on the agenda of the

General Assembly. By adopting a positive decision on this

question, the General Assembly will render a valuable

service to the Korean people and to the cause of peace in

the Far East.

40. The Mongolian People’s Republic maintains the most

cordial relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of

Korea, which is going through a stage of vigorous economic

and cultural development, and greatly appreciates the

untiring and constructive efforts of its Government for its

peaceful unification on a .democratic basis and for the

maintenance of peace in that part of the world.

41. In speaking of the situation in Asia, we cannot ignore

the threat presented by the so-called security treaties

concluded by certain Asian countries with the United

States of America, or the existence of such aggressive

military blocs as SEATO [South-East Asia Treaty Organization]

and ANZUS [Security Treaty between Australia, New

Zealand and the United States of America], which are

directed against the socialist countries, against independent

peace-loving States and against national liberation movements

in Asia. It is well known that intensive preparations

are now under way for forging yet another aggressive bloc,

PATO [Pacific-Asian Treaty Organization].

42. In addition, the noticeable strengthening of the

military and political alliance between the United States of

America and Japan and the increasing Japanese militarization

are causing legitimate concern to the peoples of Asia,

which have often in the past been the victims of Japanese

aggression; they include the Mongolian people, who have

recently observed the thirtieth anniversary of their victory

on the river Khalkin-Gol over the Japanese invaders who

had attempted to undermine our country’s independence

and revolutionary achievements. The Japanese invasion was

a kind of prelude to the Second World War. As you know,

on the very day after the defeat of the Japanese forces at

Khalkin-Gok, that is to say on 1 September 1939, the most

destructive war in history began with Nazi Germany’s

attack on Poland.

43. Another serious threat to security in Asia and the Far

East is the de facto occupation of vast areas of the Pacific

and Indian oceans by United States armed forces.

44. Thus the dangerous situation now prevailing in Asia

gives us serious food for thought on how peace can be

maintained and ensured in this enormous area of the world.

45. Accordingly, the Government of the Mongolian People’s

Republic warmly welcomes and supports the idea of

establishing a system of collective security in Asia, an idea

which is dictated by the actual course of events and finds

sympathy and support in many countries.

46. Only a system of collective security embracing the

whole continent, not narrow military and political groupings

under the aegis of foreign aggressive forces, can give the

peoples of the region an opportunity of finding better

solutions, under conditions of political independence and

lasting peace, for the vast social and economic problems

with which they are confronted. Such a system would

ensure peaceful and mutually advantageous co-operation,

on a basis of equal rights, between the participating States.

It would be an obstacle to any increase in the influence of

imperialist, colonial and expansionist circles in the region

and a stabilizing factor in Asia and throughout the world.

47. The Government and people of our country continue

to follow with close attention the development of events in

the Middle East, and consider that an immediate political

settlement in that region is one of the important conditions

for the alleviation of international tension and for the

defence of peace against a large-scale military conflict.

48. The extremist ruling circles at Tel Aviv, openly

flouting repeated United Nations decisions and the whole

world’s clearly expressed demands, are violating the cease-fire

agreement and escalating their aggression against the

Arab States, thus aggravating an already explosive situation.

49. The Israeli aggressors have set themselves the goal of

preventing a political settlement of the Middle East crisis

and are trying to impose their expansionist conditions in

the interests of imperialism and neo-colonialism.

50. Many speakers here have quite rightly emphasized that

the Tel Aviv rulers, in their defiant behaviour and adventurism,

are relying on the direct aid and support of

influential imperialist circles of the United States, Western

Germany and certain Western Powers which take a hostile

neo-colonialist attitude towards the independent Arab States.

51. The Mongolian delegation considers that those who

stand behind Israel should bear the responsibility for delay

in reaching a Middle East settlement. The cause of the

peace and security of nations urgently requires the rapid

adoption of decisive measures, both within and outside the

United Nations, to compel the Israeli invaders to implement

the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967

[242 (1967)] and to abandon their present dangerous

course, which is fraught with serious consequences for all

nations.

52. The question of European security occupies an important

place in the strengthening of the peace and security of nations.

53. The military and political alliance between the United

States and the Federal Republic of Germany and the

activation of the aggressive NATO bloc are a serious threat

to peace in Europe and throughout the world.

54. The openly revanchist and expansionist policy of the

Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, and its

support of militarist and neo-nazi forces in the country,

cannot fail to arouse profound concern among the peoples.

The line taken by the Government of the Federal Republic

of Germany that it is the sole representative of all

Germany, its unlawful encroachment on West Berlin, and

Bonn’s aspirations to the possession of nuclear weapons — all

this is directed towards undermining the foundations of

peace in Europe.

55. A prerequisite for ensuring European security is

recognition of the incontrovertible fact of the existence on

German soil of two sovereign States, the German Democratic

Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany, and

recognition of the existing frontiers, especially the Oder-Neisse

line and the frontier between the two German States.

56. In this connexion the delegation of the Mongolian

People’s Republic would like to lay special stress on the

great contribution which the German Democratic Republic,

as an important factor of peace, is making to the cause of

strengthening security in Europe. The actively peaceful

policy of the socialist German Democratic Republic, whose

glorious twentieth anniversary will be celebrated in a few

days’ time enjoys great authority on the international

scene. This is convincingly illustrated by the fact that a

number of Asian and African States have recently established

diplomatic relations with the German Democratic Republic.

57. We should like to reiterate once again that the United

Nations should comply with the request of the German

Democratic Republic, which long ago informed the Organization

of its wish to become a Member. The consistent

adherence of the German Democratic Republic to the

purposes and principles of the United Nations, its untiring

struggle for peace and security and the continuing growth

of its economic potential are eloquent proof that it would

become an active and effective Member of our Organization.

58. The Mongolian delegation wishes to state unequivocally

that the discrimination which is being exercised

against the German Democratic Republic with regard to

granting it observer status in the United Nations and the

tight to participate in the Organization’s various commissions

and committees is not only a shortsighted attitude but

also a dangerous concession to the policy of those forces

which are using devious means to introduce the Federal

Republic of Germany, with its expansionist policy towards

the developing countries, into various United Nations institutions.

59. The Government of the Mongolian People’s Republic

welcomed the Budapest appeal by the States parties to the

Warsaw Treaty to all European countries concerning the

convening of an all-European conference on problems of

security and co-operation. This important proposal by the

socialist countries is gaining ever-increasing support.

60. We are profoundly convinced that peaceful co-operation

between the European States is the only realistic

alternative to the dangerous military confrontation, to the

arms race and to the disputes imposed upon Europe by

aggressive forces seeking to review the consequences of the

Second World War and to recarve the map of Europe. In

our opinion the creation of a stable system of security in

Europe would also promote the creation of other regional

collective-security systems, particularly in Asia.

61. Despite the limited success recently achieved in partial

disarmament measures, the world arms race, especially in

nuclear weapons, is accelerating. No progress is being made

in the settlement of such vitally important problems as the

prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons, their limitation

and the subsequent destruction of stockpiles of such weapons.

62. The problem of ending underground tests of nuclear

weapons, and other measures to limit the race in these

weapons of mass destruction, are still urgently awaiting

solution. The Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in three

environments is not being universally observed. That

important instrument, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation

of Nuclear Weapons [General Assembly resolution

2372 (XXII)], has not yet entered into force and has not

yet been signed by a number of nuclear and potential

nuclear States.

63. All this arouses. legitimate anxiety among the peoples,

which look to the United Nations for further efforts to

promote success in the negotiations on general and complete

disarmament and to take effective partial measures to

avert the threat of thermo-nuclear catastrophe. The world

expects the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament

at Geneva to produce specific and positive results on the

questions which it is discussing.

64. The Mongolian People’s Republic, which has recently

become a member of the Committee on Disarmament, is

continuing its endeavours to contribute to the cause of

disarmament and the strengthening of international security.

65. Evidence of this is to be found, in particular, in the

fact that the Mongolian People’s Republic is a co-sponsor of

the 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] which has been submitted for

consideration at this session of the General Assembly.

66. Our delegation is convinced that this proposal, which

is motivated by a genuine concern to save mankind from

the horrors of a chemical and bacteriological war, will be

supported by the States Members of the United Nations. In

our opinion the General Assembly would make a substantial

contribution to the cause of disarmament and the

cause of maintaining world peace by adopting the draft

convention on the prohibition of the development, production

and stockpiling of chemical and bacteriological (biological)

weapons and on the destruction of such weapons.

67. The conclusion of such a convention would expand

and strengthen the Geneva Protocol of 1925, which has

been, and still is, a highly important instrument of

international law for prohibition of the use in war of

chemical and bacteriological weapons, those dangerous

means of mass destruction of human life.

68. Now that, in certain countries, particularly in the

United States and Western Germany, intensive work is

being done on developing and stockpiling chemical and

bacteriological weapons and monstrous plans are being

made for their use “in case of war“, it is an urgent task to

ensure strict observance of the Geneva Protocol by all

States without exception. Accordingly the delegation of the

Mongolian People’s Republic to the Committee on Disarmament

submitted a proposal that the General Assembly

should immediately address an appeal to all Governments

which have not yet done so to accede to the Protocol or to

ratify it during 1970, to mark the forty-fifth anniversary of

the signature of this historic instrument and the twenty-fifth

anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

Our delegation hopes that this proposal, which was supported

by a number of delegations in the Committee — and

we should like to express our gratitude to them — will also

meet with a favourable response and support at this session

of the General Assembly.

69. Our delegation has taken those steps because of its

sincere desire to support the important conclusions and

recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General

of the United Nations on chemical and bacteriological

(biological) weapons and the effects of their possible use.

70. Life insistently demands untiring work to limit the

arms race and take effective partial measures of disarmament,

as well as the settlement of such problems as the

peaceful use of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, the removal

of foreign military bases from the territories of other States

and the creation of nuclear-free zones in various continents

of the world.

71. Our delegation hopes that the Committee on Disarmament,

which is now concentrating its attention on the

problem of prohibiting the use of the sea-bed and the ocean

floor for military purposes, will achieve practical results

contributing to a positive solution of this important problem.

72. The Mongolian People’s Republic is prepared to

continue its active co-operation with all States, both in the

General Assembly and in the Committee on Disarmament,

for the solution of the cardinal problem of our time, that of

disarmament.

73. In 1970 the workers of the world will celebrate the

centenary of the birth of V.I. Lenin, that consistent

champion of the right of oppressed peoples to self-determination,

that great thinker, the founder of the

world’s first socialist State and the leader of the October

Revolution, which heralded the era of the true liberation of peoples.

74. It is significant that during the same year the United

Nations will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of the

adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence

to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which reflects

the noble ideas of national self-determination, full equality

and the social progress of nations, and will be assessing the

progress made in the implementation of this historic document.

75. As a result of the rapid expansion of the national

liberation movement among colonial peoples and of the

efforts made by the United Nations, the socialist countries

and the newly independent States of Asia and Africa, a

large number of former colonies and dependent countries

have recently attained independence.

76. Nevertheless, the Declaration has not yet been fully

implemented. Tens of millions of human beings are still

under the colonial and racist yoke.

77. A particularly dangerous situation has developed in

southern Africa, where the alliance between the racist

régimes in South Africa and Southern Rhodesia and the

Portuguese colonialists has turned this part of the African

continent into a bastion of the colonial and racist order.

78. In an attempt to retain their colonial possessions in

Africa by force, the Portuguese colonialists are waging a

bloody war against the peoples of Angola, Mozambique and

Guinea (Bissau), with the economic and military assistance

of the NATO countries. The racist regime in South Africa,

in addition to intensifying its policy of apartheid against

the indigenous population of the country, is stubbornly

pursuing the same inhuman policy against the people of

Namibia, in flagrant violation of resolutions of the General

Assembly and the Security Council. The illegal regime of

the white minority in Southern Rhodesia has not only not

been overthrown but is becoming more firmly entrenched.

With the direct connivance of the Government of the

United Kingdom, the Salisbury regime has adopted a racist

constitution depriving the people of Zimbabwe of their

fundamental rights and has thus obtained a free hand for

the open establishment of a racist State similar to that of

the Republic of South Africa.

79. The maintenance of colonialism and racism runs

counter to the high purposes and principles of the United

Nations and constitutes a threat to world peace.

80. The United Nations should take resolute and practical

steps to achieve the implementation of the Declaration on

the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and

Peoples and of other decisions of the United Nations on

this subject.

81. Our delegation believes that the time has come for the

United Nations to come to grips with the problem of

neo-colonialism and to develop specific measures which can

help the newly independent States to combat this evil. The

policy of neo-colonialism being pursued by imperialist

circles constitutes a grave danger to the political independence

and sovereignty of the developing countries and

hinders their attainment of economic independence and

social progress.

82. The part which the United Nations is called upon to

play in the development of the economics of new States

must be regarded as directly connected with the struggle

against neo-colonialism. In order to enhance the effectiveness

of the economic activities of the United Nations, the

results of the implementation of earlier decisions and in

particular the reasons for the failure of the First Development

Decade must be taken into account in planning

further measures in this sphere. We believe that the

programme of the Second Development Decade should be

planned primarily to further the interests of the developing

countries and to promote the attainment of their economic

independence and the strengthening of the government

sector. It is also important that the programme of action

should be based on their national development plans.

83. Where international conditions are concerned, the

Second Development Decade cannot promise realistic effects

unless the forms and methods of trade and economic

relations between the Western and the developing countries

are radically changed, that is to say, unless the plundering

of the newly independent States by the monopolies of the

developed capitalist countries is brought to an end. It is

essential to carry on a relentless struggle against the

attempts of the capitalist Powers to evade their historic

responsibility for the wretched situation of the former

colonial countries.

84. The Mongolian People’s Republic will support any

measures which will genuinely promote the economic and

social advancement of the developing countries and the

expansion of mutually advantageous co-operation between States.

85. In 1970, the United Nations will celebrate a highly

significant occasion, the twenty-fifth anniversary of its

establishment.

86. The peoples of the world expect the United Nations,

which is called upon to save mankind from the threat of

war, to mark this anniversary with positive achievements to

its credit. This can be done, and there is enough time to do so.

87. As before, the Mongolian People’s Republic advocates

the strengthening of the United Nations as an instrument of

peace and international co-operation and will actively

support any steps it may take for the maintenance of world

peace and the strengthening of mutual understanding

among nations in accordance with its Charter. Moreover, we

believe that the Charter still contains a wide range of

possibilities for such action. We are in favour of unswerving

observance of the Charter. Only through strict observance

of its Charter can the United Nations achieve effective

solutions of the urgent problems with which it is con-

fronted. That is why we resolutely oppose the attempts of

some circles to review the fundamental principles of the

United Nations Charter, under various pretexts, including

that of the forthcoming anniversary.

88. Respect for the principle of universality is extremely

important. In connexion with the forthcoming twenty-fifth

anniversary of the United Nations, we propose that the

doors of the Organization should be opened to all States

expressing a desire to become Members.

89. In conclusion, on behalf of the Government of the

Mongolian People’s Republic, I should like to wish the

twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly success in

solving the urgent problems of the day in the interests of

peace and international security.