The 40th anniversary theme: 'United Nations for a better world.'

The Assembly expressed the hope that 1985 would mark "the beginning of an era of durable and global peace and justice, social and economic development and progress and independence of all peoples".

In adopting resolution 39/161A on 17 December, the Assembly also decided to hold a brief commemorative session culminating on 24 October 1985--exactly 40 years after the entry into force of the United Nations Charter--and coinciding with proclamation of the International Year of Peace (1986).

The Assembly expressed the hope that Heads of State or Government would participate in the session "to enhance its significance". It asked the Preparatory Committee for the Fortieth Anniversary of the United Nations to compose a suitable text for a final document to be adopted during the session.

Member States were urged to organize appropriate observance of the anniversary, with the widest possible participation, and to consider the creation of national committees to evaluate the contribution of the United Nations system over the past four decades, its continuing relevance in the current international situation, and ways in which it could be strengthened and made more effective.

Among other things, the Assembly appealed to the international mass media, both public and private, to contribute more effectively to dissemination of information on United Nations activities.

Events commemorating the fortieth anniversary, the Assembly declared, also "should reflect in an appropriate manner" the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. This resolution (39/161B) was adopted by a vote of 143 to 1 (united States) with two abstentions (France, United Kingdon). It was proposed by India on behalf of the non-aligned nations.

'The Spirit of 1945'

The Preparatory Committee for the anniversary had been established by the Assembly in 1983, and Jorge E. Illueca (Panama), President of the thirty-eighth session of the General Assembly was chosen as its Chairman. By December 1984, 98 countries had joined in the work of the Committee. At its May 1984 opening meeting Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar emphasized that every Member State should examine the impact of the United Nations on international life in order to suggest what improvements could be made during the last 15 years of the century. He suggested that citizens of each State be asked to propose concrete measures to strengthen commitment to the aims and purposes of the Organization. "The anniversary", he said, "would provide a much needed opportunity to give the people of the World a truthful account of what the United Nations could and could not do, of its successes and failures, of its means and limitations, of its dreams and realities."

Mr. Illueca said at the Committee's second meeting that 1985 could be a turning point, marking a new beginning in understanding and cooperation among the world's nations. The chairman noted that United Nations activities in 1985 would include adoption of a decision on the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the World Disarmament Conference, the commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on decolonization and the holding at Nairobi of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women.

In addition, with the closing of the period for signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 9 December, 1984, there would be a concerted effort to pave the way for the new legal regime to enter into force in 1985. The Chairman said he hoped priority would be given to marking the International Youth Year, also to be observed in 1985; concluding a draft convention on the rights of the child; and considering the economic and social situation in the world. Celebration of the fortieth anniversary would be a favourable occasion both for considering a political summit in the Security Council and for starting global negotiations, even opening the way for a new North-South summit within the framework of the United Nations, he said.

The Chairman said the anniversary could provide a unique opportunity for Governments and peoples to sum up the developments of the past 40 years, a time that had witnessed conflicts, but not a world war. He was convinced that "the great Powers, which were allies in the past, would rediscover the spirit of 1945, the spirit of the end of a war and of the building of a better world".

Committee Discussion

During the Committee's five meetings, representatives from 30 countries expressed their views.

Many representatives emphasized that the anniversary should offer a time for Member States to re-commit themselves to multilateralism, to the Charter and to mutual trust. They also said it would be a good occasion to review the performance of the Organization over the past four decades. Some delegations stressed the necessity of commemorating, by intensifying efforts for peace, not only the anniversary of the United Nations, but the fortieth anniversary of the victory of the nations united in the anti-Hitler coalition over fascism.

A number of Committee members wondered if current United Nations practices were those best suited to promoting just solutions and strengthening confidence in the Organization. They attributed the shortcomings of the United Nations not so much to its inadequacy as to its members' lack of political will, and recommended that the States seriously examine how they could individually strengthen the Organization. Other Committee members referred, in this regard, to increasing politicization, unnecessary bureaucratic structure and existence of blocs and bloc voting. They advocated greater use of the Security Council. Reflection on this issue during the anniversary was considered to be appropriate.

Anniversary Plans

* The United Nations Institute for Training and Research is planning a meeting from 22 to 24 April of former Presidents of the General Assembly to discuss Assembly procedures.

* The Economic and Social Council will devote special attention during its July 1985 session to the role of the United Nations in promoting international economic and social cooperation. It will also consider ways to strengthen the role of the Organization and enhance its effectiveness.

* The Department of Public Information is planning such activities as the production of special films, television and radio programmes and magazines, anniversary publications, media conferences, exhibitions and an international poster competition. United Nations information centres are arranging events ranging from concerts to seminars.

* The Universal Postal Union has addressed a circular to its 167 members regarding the issue of commenorative postal stamps for the anniversary.

* San Francisco is planning special events for 26 June 1985, the anniversary date of the signing of the Charter in that city's Veterans' Memorial Hall. (A/AC.222/2; A/AC.222/3; A/AC.222/5: A/AC.222/6)

'Rededication' Urged

India told the General Assembly the non-aligned countries believed the United Nations system provided an indispensable negotiating forum for harmonizing actions of nations toward the goals of the Charter. "We are convinced that the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations should be an occasion for a determined rededication by the Member States to the purposes and principles of the Charter and a reaffirmation of their commitment to give those purpose and principles full effect", India said. It noted the concern that there have been attempts to weaken the role of the United Nations in international relations, and said the anniversary should be an occasion to review the performance of the Organization in order to enhance its role in achieving peace, security, justice and development.

Commenting on its proposal to mark the anniversary of the Declaration on decolonization, India said the United Nations had played an important role in the implementation of the Declaration. The non-aligned countries expected the anniversary would reflect the anniversary of this Declaration, "with a view to strengthening the international commitment to the total eradication of colonialism". The non-aligned countries also called on Member States to take urgent steps toward the early establishment of the new international economic order as well as the new international information order.

Ireland, on behalf of the European Community, recalled that the United Nations and the European Community shared a common origin, "the terrible suffering and destruction wrought by the Second World War". It was a considerable achievement that, 40 years later, the Organization was firmly established "as the premier international forum for the consideration of the world's problems, whether political, economic or social".

There were other major achievements to celebrate in the anniversary year: a global war had been averted and the United Nations, notably through its peace-keeping operations, had helped contain regional conflicts. The last four decades had also been a "dramatic and successful" period of decolonization, which had led to an increase in the United Nations membership from 51 to 159.

Despite the achievements, Member States must also ask why regional conflicts, super-Power tensions, economic and social injustices and abuses of human rights continued. Ireland noted the "valuable report" of the Secretary-General, in which he expressed concern that the possibilities of the United Nations, especially of the Security Council, were not being sufficiently realized. "The Ten would like to associate themselves with his admonition that we should beware of blurring the separate and specific functions of the main organs and specialized agencies by treating them as interchangeable platforms for pursuing the same political aims. Issues must be dealt with primarily on their own merits and in their own context", Ireland said.

Yugoslavia said "particular importance" should be given to the observance of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the decolonization Declaration. It noted that some Member States were increasingly turning away from commitment to multilateralism and were pursuing more of their interests through bilateral channels. The anniversary would be an opportune time for all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to multilateralism.

The USSR noted that the United Nations was established while the Second World War was still going on. "The great victory over fascism--the fortieth anniversary of which we will be solemnly celebrating next year--will never grow dim in the memory of mankind", it said. "The Soviet people lost 20 million lives and it cost us unprecedented destruction in our history." The lessons of that war, the main one of which was that "we have to fight against war before it starts", were of abiding importance.

The United Nations Charter was a reliable basis for ensuring the peaceful life of peoples and for developing inter-State relations around the principles of peaceful coexistence. The United Nations had taken numerous practical steps to curb the arms race, although it had much more to do. It had successfully promoted the break-up of the colonial system, but it remained important to end vestiges of colonialism, apartheid, racism and neo-colonialism.

Cuba said it was concerned about the pressure some countries had exerted on the United Nations system, especially on such agencies as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The anniversary should provide a timely opportunity to strengthen support for the Organization and reject attempts to discredit its role. The anniversary should reflect both the gains made in the process of decolonization and the battles lying ahead to achieve full implementation of the Declaration.

Canada said it was impatient with those who made "a fetish of impugning the worth, legitimacy and relevance of the United Nations". The success of international peace-keeping was a rare reflection "of sustained international sanity". The influence of the office of the Secretary-General augured well for the future direction of the Organization.

The anniversary would provide an occasion to restore to the United Nations the central role foreseen in the Charter. "To do that, it will be necessary to attempt some internal reforms," Canada said. The three annual reports of the Secretary-General provided clear, relevant observations on problems besetting the Organization and they were a starting point for future work on ways to strengthen the role and effectiveness of the United Nations. In the Assembly, perhaps there could be "more current, less ritualistic debates" on individual items. Some repetitive issues may have exhausted their utility and could be dropped from the agenda; and "greater use of informal contacts across regional groups" might generate greater agreement.

The United State expressed "strong reservations" concerning the resolution linking the United Naitons anniversary with the twently-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on decolonization.

The United States had opposed the Declaration 25 years ago, because it made no mention of the principle of self-determination. "For that reason we could not support in the 1960, nor do we find it possible to support that Declaration today as an integral part of the fortieth anniversary commemoration." The United States was prepared to celebrate the achievements of the decolonization process and continued to work towards the full achievement of decolonization.

"We believe that the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations should be made up of elements that all of us can support wholeheartedly", the United States said. "Certainly, there is no scarcity of United Nations achievements which all of us can celebrate. These certainly include, from our point of view, the achievements of the United Nations in the decolonization process."

Honduras noted that there would be several memorable dates to celebrate in 1985: the fifteenth anniversary of the Declaration on friendly relations and co-operation among States, the twently-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on decolonization, the proclamation of the International Year of Peace, which would be connected with the International Youth Year and the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations. The Organization's anniversary would provide the best possible opportunity for Member States to make a sharp analysis of "our achievements and the lacunae in various areas of our universal duties", Honduras said.

In reviewing their conduct as States, members must not overlook the partial interpretation they often gave to CHarter principles. "The international obligations that flow from it cannot be distorted by being implemented on the basis of a shameful policy of blocs that distorts the goals and aims fo the United Nations", Honduras said. "Hegemonic ambitions should not vitiate the principles that govern the conduct of this world Organization. The interests of the North should not prevail over those of the South."

Committee on Chemical Weapons Resumes Work in Geneva 

The Ad Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons, a subsidiary body of the 40-member Conference on Disarmament, resumed work on 14 January in Geneva.

Last year, the General Assembly urged the Conference on Disarmament to intensify negotiations on a convention on the complete and effective prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of all chemical weapons and on their destruction. The Conference is to take into account all existing proposals and future initiatives in order to secure the final elaboration of a convention at the earliest possible date.

In reporting to the General Assembly on its work during 1984, the Conference on Disarmament made a number of recommendations on the framework and timetable for its negotiations related to chemical weapons. Annex III of the Committee's report (A/39/27) contains the "Basic provisions of a convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons and on their destruction", proposed by the Soviet Union in July 1982; the United States "Draft convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons", presented by Vice-President George Bush to the Conference on Disarmament in April 1984; and a document submitted by a group of socialist States in August 1984 entitled "The organization and functioning of the consultative committee".