51Member Stat~s, hasnowincreased itsmembership to159isindeedameasure of theacknowledgement ofitspcestig~\ andits rolE:~ ~nworldaffairs. TheUnited Nations hassurvived undlivedaKdgrowntoproveindispensable tothecontemporary world. Atthesametime,thenumerical growthofmembership intheworldOrganization hascorrespondingly increased thediversity ofpositions andinterests and unavoidably b~o~bt withitnewinternal problems andsometim~e evencritical situations. Whileincreasing membership imparts greater strength andadvantages to theOrganization, i~alsoimposes heavier responsibilities inthesensethata greater degreeofrestraint andmoderation andrespect forandtolerance ofthe positions ofothershaveuecomeabsolutely imperative. Withoutthis,wecan anticipate nobreakthrough intheaccumul~ting problems facingtheOrganization. Thereisaneed,then,foranintensification ofefforts, sothatallnations, whatever thediversity oftheir vie~~andinterests, mayfindintheUnitedNations area~y fo~~~forthesolution oftheirmutualproblems, andintheCharter a common r~ference onallmatters whichtouchthewelfare ofmankind asawhole. TheCharter, inallsolemnity, assigned totheUnitedNations asitsforemost mission "tosavesucceeding generations fromthescourge ofwar".Thetaskof carrying outthatinjunction continues tobe';,eOrganization's mainchallenge. Itseffectiveness infulfilling thisroleis,however, largely determined bythe political andpowerrealities oftheworldenvironment inwhichitoperates. Unhappily, factors intheinternational climate havenotprovedconducive to helping theOrganization measure uptothemagnitude andnobility ofitstasks. Whatisnotreadily understood isthattheUnitedNationsisnotaself-operating agencyandthatitsimplycannottakesignificant actionwithout theconsent and support ofitsMembers, whichprovideitwithfinancial andmaterial resources andEMS/2l A/40/W.lJ 93 CMi;'.Cu:U:.iilaii!l!I Burma) empower andmandateittoact.ThatiE}theoverall environment inwhichtheUnited Nations mustoperate anditmeanslittletoevaluate itsperformance against ~bstract standards andwithout reference totheserealities. Itfollows theref~om thattheeffectiveness oftheUnitedNations flowsfromtherespect whichits Members haveforitaconstitutional authority. Inthefinalanalysis, theUnited NationswillneverbemorethanwhatitsMembers allowittobe. Theconceptual basisoftheUnitedNationsatitsl}irthwasthatthe.Allied Powers, whichwerethevictors intheSecondWorld War~wouldremainunitedto maintain thefuturepeaceoftheworld. Thatassumption failedtoprovetruewith ·theonsetofthecoldwar,whichbesetthepost-War pe.tiodandextended todominate theworldpolitical sceneasEast-West rivalry. ~acedwiththishistorical context, theUnitedNations, fromitsvery inception, hasprovedunabletoco-ordinate, butinstead hashadtodealwith, different interpretations oftheCharter. Legalprinciples havebecomepoliticized anddoublestandards havebeenapplied. Whatisseenasabreachofinternational normsbyonesideisoftenpresented asanactofliberation andfraternal aidby theother. Seenthrough theprismofthedifferent ideologies professed bythe opposing blocs,everymajorissuehasbeenamplified inthebattleforheartsand minds. Theleading roleentrusted tothemajorPowersin1.945hasdeteriorated intoasystemfounded ontheantagonistic relations ofthet~~leading Powersand th~division oftheworldonthatbasis,thereby negating boththesubst~~ce and thepurport ~ftheUnitedNations. Thus,thepre~entcrisisofconfidence confronting theOrganization isthe resultnotofshortcomings initst••echanisms butofapolicyoutofcontrol. The UnitedNations hast~enunabletoputanendtotheconfrontation between thetwo blocsortohaltthearmsracebetween theirleading Powers. Therivalry remains andsourcesoft1ensionstillexistintheworld. Amultitude ofproblems beforeEMS/21 A/40/PV.13 94- ------------------------------, (Mt.ChitBlaing, Burma) theUnitedNations remainunsolved. Thesecurity ofthesmallandmedium-sized countries isbynomeansassured, andthedangeroflocalwarsstillpersists. Thefundamental purposeoftheUnitedNationsisthemaintenance of intern~ti(;\nal peaceandsecurity, thepromotion ofwhichdepends onthedevelopment offriendJ¥ relations andco-operation amongstates. Theprinciples forthisare embodied intheUnitedNations Charter andtheirfaithful observance isof l:ermanent importance fortheimprovement ofinternational relations andformaking thePnitedNations amoreeffective instrument ofinternational conciliation. However, inthepresent-day worldsituation ithasnotbeeneasytoliveupto thatideal. Thus,inthe40yearssincethesignature oftheChartex alimited peaceaffording limitedsecurity hasbeenprecariously maintained through the
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the role and effectiveness of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, as well as addressing various global challenges. It touches on the organization's history, its challenges in the post-World War II era, and the need for cooperation among member states to achieve its goals. The text does not seem to be focused on specific economic, environmental, or social issues, but rather on the international relations and diplomacy aspects of the United Nations.

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