Oneofthemostsuccessful endeavours oftheUnitedNations inthefieldof international peaceandsecurity areitspeace-:-keeping operations aDdobserver .issions inanumberofconflict areas. Onthewholetheseoperations haveproved tobeausefulinstrument ofde-escalation andconflict control. Wehavelearned frOllexperience thatthesepeace-keeping forcescanhopetoplayausefulroleonly iftheycancountontheco-operation oftheparties toaparticular conflict. Thatisboththeirstrength andtheirweakness. Itisnottheobjective ofa peace=kGepin; forcetosolvetheprobleP thatleadtoaconflict. Whattheycan do,however, iscreate afavourable climate, without whichdiplomatic efforts to solvetheunderlying dispute cannothopetoachieve much.Without aframework of peacee-making bypolitical meansapeace-keeping forcecanbyitselfdolittleor nothing torectify thesituation. Itisprecisely withthatin.indthatIshouldliketodrawthisAssembly's attention tothesituation oftheunited Nations Interim ForceinL~banon (UNIPIL). Itoperates inapolitical vacuumcreated bytheinability ofthe parties involved toreach agreement onsecurity arrangementsNR,Iat A/40/N.9 104-105 (Mr.vandel!Broek,Netherlands) intheareaandtoCC8etoamunderstanding oftheroleoftheForce1nsouthern Lebanon. Regrettably, thewithdrawal oftheIsraeli forcesfrOllLebanon hassofar notledtoasituation inwhichUNIPILcanfulfilarolemoreinkeeping with·its mandate. ASaconsequence bothoftheprecarious situation prevailing 1nLebanon andofIsrael's insistence onthepreservation ofasecurity zonebeyonditsown border, UNIPIL's mainconcern nowseemstobetoprotectitsownpersonnel. However unsatisfactory asthepresentstateofaffai~s Jlaybe,ayGovermaent continues tobegrateful totheSecretary-General andhisstafffortheir unrelenting efforts toredress thesituation. Shouldsuccess continve toelude them,however, itistobefearedthatUNIPIL's position willbecomerapidly untenable. TheSecretary-General inhisrecentreporthasmadethewiseobservation that theUnitedNations cannot-andwasnotintended to-solvealltheproblems ofthe international CODDunity butthatitisthebestplacetoavoidtheworstandto striveforimprovement. Forthisreason, Iwouldliketoadd,thisOrganization deserves allthepolitical supportitsMembers cangiveeIhavealready mentioned itspeace-keeping efforts. Another fielainwhichweshouldmusterourforcesrelates totheplagullof terrorism andhijacking. Thisformofanarchy canbecombatted onlyinconditions ofinternational solidarity andmutu~lco-operation.AMH/25 A/40/PV.9 106 (Mr.vandenBroek,Netherlands) Whatever motives mightleadtoterrorist behaviour Iitremains anoffence against everynormofcivilization totakehostage innocent persons, letalone'to killthemalmostwantonly. Iwouldjointheappealtothosecountries notyet parties totheConventions adopted undertheauspices oftheInternational Civil Aviation organization (ICAO)onaviation security andtotheInternational Convention Against theTakingofHostages, adopted bytheGeneral Assembly, todo sospeedily. Likewise, Iurgeallparties totheseConventions toimplement them scrupulously underallcircumstances. International co-operation intheeconomic andsocialfieldshasbeenan essential taskoftheunitedNations inpursuit ofthepurposes andprinciples of theCharter forabetterworld. Overthelastfourdecades theUnitedNations, withitssystemofspecialized agencies, hasmadeanimportant contribution. For millions ofpeople,particularly indeveloping countries, theUnitedNations has beensynonymous withchangeandwithhopeforthefuture. Intheareasof international co-operation fordevelopment, environment~ population and,most recently, thestatusofwomen,thisOrganization, through avarietyofactivities, hasearneditsplaceinhistory. TheNetherlands isproudtohavebeenclosely associated withtheseactivities andwillcontinue tobeassociated wi~themin theyearsahead. Theworldeconomy todayischaracterized bycomplex inter~elationships of financial, moneta~y andtradeissueswhich-astheSecretary-General haspointed outinhisann~lreport-"areofsuchprofound political andsocialimportance thattheycanonlybedealtwitheffectively aspartofawiderpolitical process" (A/40fl,p.9).Inthis respe~t theUnitedNationsoffersauniversal andunique forumfordiscussion andstudythatcutsacrosstraditional sectoral boundaries. Co-ordinating efforts, suchastherecentexamples ofaddressing theemergencies onIlI\MB/25 A/40/PV.9 107 (Hr.vandensroek,Netherlands) theAfrican continent, haveshownthat,giventhewillofallconcerned, theunited Nations canmakeanimportant contribution. TheunitedNations hasbeeninstrumental informulating objectives andtargets forde~elopment co-operation. Thesecontinue tqplayavitalroleinour determination ofpriorities. OnlylastweektheNetherlands Government reaffirned
**Analysis**
The text discusses the United Nations' peacekeeping operations, its efforts to combat terrorism, and its role in international cooperation on economic and social issues. It highlights the importance of international solidarity and cooperation to address global challenges. The text does not specifically focus on economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues, but rather emphasizes the UN's role in promoting peace, security, and international cooperation.

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