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GV Guests at United Nations Association dinner (MUTE)
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SV Kurt Waldheim, U.N. Secretary-General speaking
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TRANSCRIPT: (SEQ. 2) WALDHEIM: "There is in fact a growing anxiety among the members about the capacity of the Security Council in the present political circumstances to fulfil the task entrusted to it by the charter -- namely, the maintenance of international peace and security. In my opinion, no problem facing the United nations is more vital than strengthening the effectiveness of the Security Council. The ways in which this important body is used -- or indeed, not used -- and the respect, or lack of it, for its decisions, should be given the closest attention by all member states. I feel obliged to say this here, ladies and gentlemen, because I am getting more and worried about this aspect. Here we have a Security Council, here we have a body who is responsible for international peace and security and is not used as it should be in situations of crisis, and even if the Council finally makes a decision, the decision is very often not respected by the parties concerned. So I feel obliged to stress this point and you may be assured that I shall do my utmost to draw the attention of the member states to this important fact, and I hope that we can remedy the situation."



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:



Mr. Waldheim's remarks come at a time when several Wester member states have complained privately about the increasing number of Council meetings on issues that lose little or no threat to peace. Moreover, the Council, they feel, has been barred from considering questions which do pose a threat to peace. The U.N. Secretary-General also expressed concern about the pessimistic estimate of chances for resuming the Geneva peace conference on the Middle East. Neither the parties in the Middle East nor the international community could afford a continuing stalemate, he said.




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Background: INTRODUCTION: In New York, United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim on Monday (18 April) called for a stronger, more effective U.N. Security Council. He said members of the world body were growing anxious about its ability to fulfil peace-keeping obligations.

SYNOPSIS: He was warmly applauded after his speech to the U.N. Association of the united States.