The nations speak: crisis and hope.

Each year, during a three-week period at the beginning of the regular General Assembly session, United Nations Member States express their views on the full range of problems on the world agenda in the "general debate". Also at this point the Assembly customarily hears addresses by visiting Heads of State or Government.

During the period of the 1984 general debate, held from 24 September to 11 October, 150 speakers came to the podium of the General Assembly Hall. Among them were 16 Heads of States or Government, whose addresses are summarized on pages 00-00. The remaining 134 speakers included 128 foreign ministers.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam, addressed the Assembly on 21 September, the day his country was admitted to the United Nations as its 159th Member State (see page 3).

Despite differences in ideology and a diversity of viewpoints, many speakers in the 1984 general debate seemed to agree that the current world situation was one of crisis. They spoke of the "nuclear crisis"; the "crisis in East-WEst relations"; the "global economic crisis"; the "crisis in Africa"; the "crisis in multilateralism".

As Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, put it: "Unless we all, and especially the wealthy and the militarily more powerful nations, rise to out collective responsibilities in accordance with the trust which all mankind reposes in us by virtue of being Members of this Organization, this crisis now confronting world civilization will continue relentlessly until this civilization is brought to its extinction."

Reflecting on the United Nations 40th anniversary next year, a number of speakers decried what they saw as a trend away from multilateralism in resolving international problems, and called for a renewed commitment to the principles of the Charter. "We cannot conceive of a world without the United Nations", said Venezuela's President, Jaime Lushinchi. "However, serious obstacles weaken its effectiveness and credibility."

A number of speakers stressed the need to revitalize the United Nations role in halting conflicts and settling crises, and in supporting development and human rights. Specific proposals for strengthening the Organization included improving the efficiency of the Security Council and revising the veto power within it, as well as increasing co-operation between the Security Council and the Secretary-General, and giving him more flexibility of action.

East-West tensions, especially as reflected in the arms race, were widely viewed as a major threat to world stability. The United States and Soviet Union were urged by many speakers to resume arms talks. Overtures in that direction were viewed as positive signs. "After a long night of confrontation between the major Powers, we may well be witnessing the first light of a new dawn", said Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan, Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

None the less, most speakers acknowledged, the arms race remained a "sword of Damocles" hanging over mankind. "Let us be honest", stated Dawa Tsering, Minister for Foreign...