economic andsocialprogress. ItisalsointhisOrganization thatthetrueand long-term interests ofthegreatPowerslie.Suchacommitment alonewillmakethe UnitedNations whatmankind intendedittobe:aneffective instrument for securing peaceandprogress, andnotmerelyaspectator ofhopeful signsofeasing oftensions, brought aboutbybilateral initiatives andagreements. Nepalhopes thatthisfortiethsession oftheAssembly willbethesession oftransition froll antagonism toworldco-operation andwillheraldthedawnofaneweraofpositive humanendeavour.MLG/ljb A/40/PV.23 ,49-50 Prince,MohaEd BOLKIAR (Brunei Darussalam): Hr.president, 1shouldlike onbehalfofthedelegation ofBrtmeiDarussalara toexpress mywarmest congratulations toHr.JaimedePiniesonhisunanimous election tothehighoffice ofPresident ofthefortieth session oftheGeneral Assembly. withhisvast experience intheactivities oftheUnitedNations andhisundoubted diplomatic skill, ICUIconfident thathewillablymanagetheproceedings andaffairs ofthis Asselllbly• Atthispoint,allowmealsotopayawell-deserved tr:ibutetotheoutgoing President, AnOassador PaulLusaka, forthecompetent andablemannerinwhichhe presided overtheworkofthelastsession. Onthisoccasion ofcommemorating thefortieth anniversary ofthefounding of theUnitedNations, Iwishtoreaffirm thecommitment ofBruneiDarussalam tothe UnitedNations andtheprinciples ofitsCharter. TheUnitedNations, andits Charter havestoodthetestoftime.Therearemanywhohavecriticized theunited Nations asbeingineffective. Somehaveevensuggested thatitsdaysarenumbered, andsomeotherssaythatithasbecomeirrelevant. Weagreethatithasnotalways beeneffective, butwhatinternational bodyofthesizeoftheUnitedNations is reallyeffective? Andwhoisultimately responsible formakingthisbody effective? True,theUnitedNations recordintheperformance ofitsprimary function tomaintain international peaceandsecurity hasbeendeficient. Butcan wereallyblametheunitedNations forthis?AP/mh A/40/P'CJ.23 51 (prince Mohamed.Bolkiah, BruneiDarussalam) Wedonotbelongtotherankofthepessimists. Wedonotjudgetheunited Nations asafailti~e. WeliketolookatitsrecordsofsuceessesJ its peace-keeping efforts inCyprus, theCongoandelsewhere isaprideandalightof hopetomanyofus.TheUnitedNations hasalsodonewellinotherareas: in humanitarian efforts helping there~ugees, intheeradication ofsmallpox, itswork inchildwelfare andmanyothers. Surelythesestandoutassuccess stories. Theineffectiveness oftheUnitedNations intheperformance ofitsprimary function canbeattributed tothelackofpolitical willofitsMemberStatesto actpositively inaccordance withthepurposes oftheUnitedNations. Itisthis positive attitude whichtheMembers mustadopt. TheU~.itedNations ca"donomore thanwhattheMembers areprepared todo.Therefore we,theMembers, must recognize thatitisoursolemndutytodeliver whatweallpromised whenwejoined thisaugustbody. Eventhoughitsperformance doesnotmeetthehighest expectations ofmany, yetduelargely toitsexistence theworldhasnotbeenstruckbyanother disastrous globalwar.Itisstillarelatively safeworld.Itistrue,the situation intheworldtodayisfarfromperfect. Buthasiteverbeenperfect? Therehavealwaysbeenconflicts andtherewillalwaysbeconflicts, solongas peopledonotrespect thelegitimate rightsofothers. TheUnitedNations provides initsCharter principles forthedevelopment offriendly relations amongnations basedonthesovereign equality ofStates. Ifleaders ofthisworldarefully committed tothoseprinciples, wecanbesparedfrom ~hemiseryandsUfferings that arebrought aboutbyregional conflicts whichmostunfortunately stillpersist: theIran-Iraq war,theproblems inLebanon, foreign intervention inAfghanistan and elsewhere. Despiteallthesewerecognize thattheUnitedNations hasdoneagood dealofworkineasinginternational tension. IsthisnottheaimoftheUnitedensurethattheUnitedNations willcontinue toberelevant whenwereachtheandensurethattheUnitedNations mustworkforwhatitiscreated for:tosave twenty-first century.(prince Mohamed Bolkiah, BruneiDarussalam)A/40/PV.23 52 itshouldactinaccordance withthespiritandtheprinciples ofthisbody.ItItissadformetosaythatcontinued conflicts arestillpresent inseveral Manywhohavespokenbefore mesaidthatthecreators oftheUnitedNationsInaworldwherepeaceisprecarious, ithasbeenshownthatourdestinyis humanity fromthescourge ofwar,ensurefreedom andjustice andaboveallto toshownoflexibility. Despiteallthese,VietNamrepeatedly claimsthatitinthesettlement ofdisputes. Thisisourresponsibility asMembers oftheUnited havecreated asetofgoalsandidealsfartoohighforittobeachieved. Butthewordsaredifferent fromitsdeeds. Indeed.ifVietNamisgenuinely serious, then ~interdeperuaent. whathappens inonecorneroftheworldwillaffecteveryone. It greatstatesmen ofthecentury. Theyhavesetthegoalsknowingfullwellthattheshouldimmediately takestepstoimplement thevarious UnitedNations resolutions menandwomenwhosetupthisOrganization 40yearsagothismonthareamongtheunresolved. Vietnamese forcescontinue tooccupyKampuchea andVietNamcontinuesistherefore vitalthatonthisfortieth anniversary oftheUnitedNations, all
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a speech or statement by Prince Mohamed Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam at the 40th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The prince discusses the importance of the United Nations, its role in promoting peace and cooperation among nations, and the need for member states to work together to achieve common goals. He also touches on the criticism of the United Nations as being ineffective and highlights its successes in various areas.

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