yourunanimous election tothepr~c>idency ofthefortieth session oftheunited Nations General Assembly. Topreside overthesupreme bodyofourOrganization in aperiodcharacterized byheightened tension andconflicts invarious partsofthe worldisaheavyresponsibility. Weareconfident thatwithyourlongdiplomatic experience andguidedbytheprinciples ofourOrganization youwillsuccessfully preside overthedeliberations ofthishistoric session. Wesaluteyourpredecessor, Ambassador IJaulLusaka, fortheroleheplayedin wiselyguiding theworkofthethirty-ninth session. Duringhismandate he faithfully interpreted thepeoples' aspirations tofreedom, independence, peaceand progress. Weshouldalsoliketotakethisopportunity tocongratulate Mr.JavierPerezdeCuellar, theunitedNations Secretary-General, onhis determination anddedication intheimplementation oftheprinciples andaimsof ourCharter• Fortyyearsagomankind wasemerging, deeplywounded, fromthemstwidespread andbrutalconflagration initshistory.MLG/at A/40/P'I.9 6 (President Machel) TheUnitedNations wasbornoutoftherealization shared byallmankind thatit wasilllperative toprevent warfeverfromdominating ourplanet, afeverthatcould claimmillions oflives,destroy humanachievements, anddrowninbloodthedr~ams ofourchildren andthehopesofouryouth. THiswasandremains thecentral task oftheUn!tedNations. Peace,however, isnotmerelytheabsence ofwar.Itis primarily theabsence ofthecausesofwar.Inthisrespect ourOrganization has played afundamental role thro~ghout its40yearsoflife. Fortyyearsago,whentheUnitedNations Charter wassignedinSanFrancisco, theOrganization comprised amere51countries. TodaytheUnitedNations family hasgrown,admitting IllOreMembers anditsfunctions becoming morevariedand complex. TodaytheUnitedNations isofauniversal character. Thisuniversality ~eflects thecorrectness ofthepurposes andprinciples enshrined intheCharter, andtheuniversal valuesitcontains. OurOrganization hasthusbeenturnedintoa favourite instrument ofallpeoples forachieVing theirdeepest aspirations to freedom, independence, peaceandprogress. Ithasbeentransformed intoabasic weaponagainst oppression, humiliation andexploitation andfortheestablishment ofmorejustandequitable relations amongnations. TheUnitedNations hasspread theidealsofbrotherhood, equality andsolidarity amongpeoples andnations. Theadoption ofresolution 1514-(XV)on14December 1960,recognizing the rightofpeoples andcountries undercolonial domination toself-determination and independence, wasalandmark inthelifeof~urOrganization. Itwasthe culmination oftheinternational community's awareness thataslongasexploitation anddomination ofcountries andpeoples persisted, warwouldcontinue todevastate ourplanet. FromthenonUnitedNations activities infavourofdecolonization and emancipation ofpeoples experienced anexponential growth.MLG/at A/40/PV.9 7 (l~residentMachel) • 11DespitehumankiOO•sefforts,deepitethefacttha1~peaceconstitutes'a fundamental aspiration forpeopletheworldover,thescourge ofwarhasnotyet disappeared. Itscausesarestillthere. Colonialism hasnotyetbeencompletely eradicated fromthefaceoftheearth. Therearestillsituations wherepeoples aredeprived oftheircountry, sovereignty andfreedom. Underdevelopment, wretchedness andhungerstillravageagreatpartofourplanet. Theeconomic domination ofnations hasnotbeeneliminated. Thegapseparating developed and underdeveloped countries hascontinued towiden. International peaceandsecurity, peaceful settlement of.disputes, rejection oftheuseofforceininternational relations andgoodneighbourliness are fundamental principles, theverycornerstones ofourOrganization. Nevertheless we aretodaywitnessing aserious worsening ofinternational relations. Frequent v~olationE; oftheprinciples andobjectives ofourCharter aretodaymanifest. We arewitnessing anincreasing recourse tothethreatoruseofforceandto intervention orinterference intheinternal affairsof/other States. Conflicts betweenStateshaveworsened andaretakingonincreasingly dangerous dimensions. Thehumanandmaterial J.ossesincurred sincethesecondWorldWararecountless. Currently, notadaypasseswithout warclaiming morelives. Indirectcontradiction oftherequirements ofourCharter, forcesare emerging inopposition totheinalienable rightofpeoples toself-determination andindependence, andthusblocking theiremancipation. Therearenumerous glaring examples ofviolation oftheprinciples ofsovereignty, territorial integrity and thelegitimate righttodevelop. Destabili~ation, directaggression, economic
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or address by a high-ranking official, likely a head of state or representative of the United Nations, addressing the General Assembly. The speech touches on various global issues, including peace, freedom, independence, and human rights, but does not focus specifically on economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues. The text does mention underdevelopment, poverty, and hunger, but these are not the primary concerns. Instead, the speech emphasizes the importance of international cooperation, the principles of the United Nations Charter, and the need to address conflicts and promote peace.

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