whalitscoIIpOnent Members wantittodoandcansucceed onlyifitsMembers are committed tomakeitsucceed. Thusinassessing itsperformance inthemaintenance ofinternational peaceandsecurity theinherent limitations ofitsrolemustbe takenintoaccount. Itcanthenbeseenthatinseveral conflict situations between MemberStatestheUnitedNations hasactually succeeded infinding a peaceful settlement. InmChlYmoreinstances, whereacomprehensive solution could notbefoundimmediately, theunitedNations hasbeenabletorestrict thescope andintensity ofconflict, bysubstituting dialogue forarmedhostilities andby providing anacceptable framework within whichthesearchforasolution could proceed inapeacefUl way.Inthiscontext, UnitedNaxions peace-keeping operations haveprovedtobeanimportant, innovative instrument inconflict control andinpreventing theescalation ofdisputes intolargerconflagrations. ,NR/dw la/40/PV.11 57 (Mr.Kusumaatmadja, Indonesia) Whileadmittedly thecollective security systemhasnotbeenabletofunction 1asenvisaged bytheCharter, eventhislimitedroleoftheUnitedNations, asa channel forconstructive dialogue between contending parties: i8showntohavebeen of iIlT,i';';~Se value. Hence,inlooking backatbothitssuccesses anditsfailures and,moreimportantly, inlooking towards thefuture, weshouldnotindulge in eitherlamentation orself-congrabJlation butrathertrytodrawpositive lessons fromthem. Weshouldacknowledge thatthechallenges theUnitedNationshasfaced throughout theseyearsandtheadvaneeaithasmadetowards aworldofgreater peace,largerfreedom andwell-being formankind makeacompelling caseforthe further strengthening ofmultilateral co-operation. Suchco-operation shouldbe seenastheinescapable expression oftheconceptofsharedresponsibility inherent intheCharter, ofthesenseofhumansolidarity thatliesattheheartof multilateralism. Butneither shouldwefailtoactwithevengreater purpose and determination torectify theobvious inadequacies andshortcomings ofour Organization inaddressing thecentral issuesofourtime. Theunderlying causesofexisting conflicts persist, andnewconflicts continue toemerge. Therehasbeenaprecipitous decline inmutualtrustand confidence amongStates,accompanied byanalarming recourse toarmedforceinthe settling ofdisputes. Themarkedincrease intensions between the9reatPowershas ledtoaheightened polariza tionandtotherevivalofpowerpollties.Theruleof law,essential forastableinternational order,isalltoooftenbeingflouted. Theworldeconomyisplagued bystagnation, inequity anddislocation -andallthis isoccurring against thebackground ofthemostperilous armsracetheworldhas everknown. Inthepast40yearstheUnitedNations andtheinternational cotmlunity at largehavefacednogreater challenge thanthegrowing riskofnuclear war,NR/dw A/40/PV.ll 58 (Kr.K\.\sumaatmadja, Indonesia) propelled byanever-escalating ar1llal1lentraceandtheexcesslveaccuJlUla tionand qualitative refinement ofweapons ofmassdestruction. Atpresent thenuclear arsenals inthepossession ofthetwomajorPowershavereached suchlevelsasto bewhollydisproportionate toanypossible national security requirement. Indeed, theyhaveacquired thecapability toobliterate alllifeonearthmanytimes.over. Thus,whilethenuclear-weapon Statesmustassumeprimary responsibility forthis stateofaffairs, theimperatives ofdisarmament andinternational security cannot belefttotheirexclusive concern, forwhatisatstakeisthemostfundaraental rightofhumansandofnations, whichistherighttotheirver-ysurvival and existence. Itisamatterofdeepconcern tonote,therefore, that,while disarmament negotiations underUnitedNations auspices haveyettoyieldmeaningfUl reSUlts, thoseconducted outsideithaveequally remained stalemated. Weregret t.hatthiscanbetheonlypossible characterization oftherecently resumed Geneva negotiations between thetwomajorPowers, whoseavowedobjective isthe termination ofthearms ~aceonearthanditsprevention inouterspace. Meanwhile newtechnologies andnewgenerations ofweaponsystemsare continually beingdevised anddeployed andnewstrategic doctrines formulated to rationalize theiruse.Consequently thethreatofnuclear warhasbecomemore menacing thaneverbefore. Wecon~inue tobelieve, therefore, thataninnediate halttoalltesting, production anddeployment ofnuclear weapons andtheir delivery systems, asanecessary firststep,wouldgreatly facilitate negotiations between thenuclear-weapon States. Wealsohopethattheforthcoming sUlllDit meeting between President ReaganandGeneral secretary Gorbachev willatleast
**Analysis**
The text discusses the role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, and the challenges it faces in addressing various conflicts and crises. It also touches on the threat of nuclear war and the importance of disarmament. The text does not specifically address economic development, natural resources, agriculture, industry, transport, communication, health, education, employment, humanitarian aid, culture, or science and technology.

**Category**
International Relations