International Year of Peace.

PREPARATIONS for the International Year of Peace (1986) were activated by a report of the Secretary-General (document A/38/413) on the basis of which the General Assembly adopted resolution 38/56 on 7 December.

The Assembly requested the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary fund for the programme of the Year and to carry out during 1984-1985 preparations for the Year, including the organization of regional seminars.

The Year's objectives include the promotion of the ideals of peace by the united Nations and its Member States as evidence of their dedication to peace by all possible means.

In 1981 the item "Decleration of a Peace Year, a Peace Motnh and a Peace Day" was included on the Assembly's agenda at the request of Costa Rica (document A/36/197). Costa Rica explained that it had been asked by the International Association of University Presidents, representing over 700 universities in all parts of the world, to put the item on the Assembly's agenda.

In 1982, the Assembly accepted a recommendation by the Economic and Social Council establishing 1986 as the International Year of PEace -- to be proclaimed on 24 October 1985, the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations (resolution 37/16). The Assembly also requested that the Secretary-General prepare a draft programme for the Year.

The Secretary-General considered the Year, which would be linked to the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations, to be of special symbolic importance in view of the ongoing...