the Council should decide and act. Similarly, France has supported initiatives that have seemed likely to contribute to maintaining international peace and security, regardless of their origin. We will continue to work to improve rela- tions among all members of the Council, particularly the permanent members. 185. France therefore can only welcome the first &ages- tion made by the Secretary-General in his latest am%.ral report, and which he repeated here today, which invites members of the Council “to give matters of international peace and security priority over bilateral differences.‘* 186. It is particularly important to extricate the Council from the logic of confrontation in which it has been locked by the East-West dialectic. Without waiting for improve- ment in the relations between its principal protagonists which is obviously to be desired, the members of the Coun- cil who pursue a genuine policy of non-alignment can make a vital contribution. 187. In order to regain its prestige, the Security Council must exercise its responsibilities to the full and refuse to allow itself to become bogged down in ritual debates and prolonged consultations behind closed doors. It should take a public stand on the major problems which affect international peace and security, 1,ook for ways and means to resolve them and cease to be a place where one comes only to complain, so that it might become once again a body for decision and action. 188. To demonstrate this determination, we believe, as the Secretary-General has also suggested, that the Council should make a deliberate an-d concerted effort to solve one or two of the major issues before it, chosen from among those that are outside the East-West dialectic which I men- tioned a moment ago. This undertaking does not seem to be beyond the reach of the Council, provided that its 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be focused on the functioning and effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council in maintaining international peace and security. It discusses the importance of the Council taking a proactive role in addressing major issues, rather than being bogged down in debates and consultations. The text also highlights the need for the Council to work together and prioritize international peace and security over bilateral differences.

**Category**
International relations, Humanitarian aid and relief