communications revolution hasbrought Statesandnations dramatically closer,but hasalsoenabled international terrorism toprosper. Thenationsoftheworldhave become JIIOreconscious oftheirCOJDJOOnconcerns, butatthesametimehavebeen forcedtofacetherealityofaworld'divided intoalargely affluent and pioneering Northandalargely impoverished andrecipient South. Withthegrowthinnumbersofindependent Statesseeking amalgamation within regional organizations hascomeatrendtowards separatism alongracialor ideological lines. Theswansongofcolonialism hasbeenaccompanied byattempts, inadifferent guise,toexercise control oversmaller orlessaffluent States, and SouthAfricacontinues toexercise itspolicyofapartheid. WhiletheworldisAMB/3 A/40/PV.l2 4-5 (KingBussein) relatively relieved wen.ver i~seeasthatSOIleforaofsuper-Power d'tente has beenachieved, itisstillfacedwithlocal war~inwhichthegreatPower.take partthrough theirproxies. Statesspendlavishly onaraaaents butarestinting in contributions thatwouldsave .1l~ions fro.faaine, drought anddisease. Industry develops onlytoproduce anxiety abouttheenvironaent. Matedal wealthincreases attheexpense ofspiritual values. Theborders ofourworldarebeingextended to outerspace,butwehavelingering doubtsaboutthefutureoftheEarth.JSM/at. A/40/P'1.12 6 (KingHussein) Tbeseandotherdevelopllents bave,ofcourse, reflected ontheUnitedHations itself, sincethisprocess hasinfluenced andsbapedtheat.titude o~eachSt.ate,or groupofStates, towards theUnitedNat.ions andbasdefined the_thodoftheir interaction withit.However, inspiteofdisparities inattitudes, allStates baveclUllCJtotheunitedNat.ions, because unkind, underthreatofexisting tension andinstability, needstheultimate recourse itrepresents,. ButbastheUnitedNationsfulfilled _~atrole?Inassessing itswork, whether positively ornegatively, wearereallytalking aboutourselves, sincethe UnitedNationsisnot.aseparate entitybutrepresents usallcollectively. Duringits4o-year existence, theUnitedNations basachieved anWllberof spectaCUlar results, either through thespecialized agencies, whichhaverendered invaluable services totheinternational collD1nity atlarge,orthrough theGeneral Assembly anditsorgans. Wherever anarmedconflict basbrokenout,ithasbeen available toEdiate between thewarring parties, ortoseparate thea.When millions ofiMocent peoplebavebecomerefugees, ithasbeentheretoprovide assistance. Inaworlddominated bythedictates ofmilitary power,theUnited Nations hasremained aconscience forpeaceandarayofhopeinthemidstofthe darkforcesofevil. Ontheotherhand,aseveryone knows,theUnitedNations hasnotlivedupto allourexpectations. Forexample, itsattempts toformulate anewworldorder basedonco-operation, equity, respect forhumanrightsandself-determination have notbeenentirely successful. Norhasit.managed toresolve somevitalissues related tointernational peaceandsecurity. Why,wemayask,hastheUnited Nations, viewedbyallasalastresort, failedinsuchendeavours? Theprinciples oftheUnitedNations anditsauthority areclosely linkedto respect foritsresolutions andtheirimplementation. Werethislinktobe severed, thegapbetween principles andauthority wouldWiden,leading togreater •JSM/at A/40/PV.12 7 (Kil'!9Bussein) •t:ensions amongtheMemberStates. I~today's world,wherethewallsbousing the humanfamilyhavebeenpushedtothelimitbythedeadlyweapons theyencompass, thereistheabiding fearthatthesetensions wouldsetoneoftheworld's hot spotsafire,reSUlting inthedestruction oftheentirehouse. Thistruthwouldseemtotakeusbacktothebeginning ofthecentury, when thelawofmightsparked theFirstWorldWar.Although established toprevent a recurrence ofwar,theLeagueofNations provedineffective inforestalling the outbreak oftheSecond WOr~dWar,outofwhoseashesgrewthepresent Organization. Everyone hopedthatitwouldsucceed whereitspredecessor hadfailedandsparethe worldathirdworldwar. AprObing lookatthedisputes ragingonourplanetwiththeaccompanying arll8 racecanonlyproduce achillofterrorinoursoulsaslongastheforceofarms holdsswayoverthedestinies ofnations; andrelations withintheframeofthe unitedNations arenomorethanareflection ofexisting inequities between the strongandtheweak,therichandthepoor,thelargeandthesmall.If,God forbid, theUnitedNations weretocrumble andanewworldwartoerupt,itwould leavebehindnothing butamassive graveofnations. Fromthisstandpoint, itisthejointresponsibility ofallnations toaddress themselves tothehotspotsinAsia,Europe, Africa, LatinAmerica andtheMiddle East,withtheaimofpreserving mankind, itsculture anditsachievements. What elsebuttheUnitedNations -whichrepresents man'shopetolivefreefromthe threatandscourgeofwar-ismorequalified toassumethisawesome responsibility? IhopetheAssembly willbearwithmeforconfining theremainder ofmy
**Analysis**
The text discusses the role of the United Nations in the face of global challenges such as terrorism, poverty, and environmental degradation. It highlights the organization's achievements and failures in promoting peace, security, and human rights. The text also touches on the theme of international relations, mentioning the concept of a "new world order" and the importance of cooperation among nations.

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