countries andratified by21todate.Inthisregard, theposition oftheunited-----------.---------~~.--_ .._- AP/jh A/4O/PV.9 97 (Hr.Malmierca Peoli, Cuba) States Government -whichrefused tosignit-anditsdecision tograntlicenses toprivate corporations toengageinprospecting activities inpartsoftheZone, inviolation ofGeneral Assembly resolution 2749(XXV)andofarticle 137ofthe Con~'ontion, shouldbeVigorously condemned bytheinternational cOJ1l1'lUnity. Weare'infavouroftheestablishment ofthenewinternational information and coJm1unications orderasaninvaluable contr!bution tothecauseofdecolonization inthisvitalareaofrelations amongpeoples; wearealsoinfavourofscientific education andthefreeandthorough education ofthehumanperson. Thepeoples' basicrightsinclUde therighttoself-determination, development, workandan independent life. Sportsarealsoarightofthe people:~ anditishightimeforthemtobe practised byall,onanequalfooting, without hierarchies orsmallgroupsdeciding onwheresportseventsshallbeheldandwh~willparticipate inthem,without consulting thepeople. Webelieve thattheUnitedNations istheappropriate Organization forpromoting sports, sinceitsuniversal nature makesitthe depository parexcellence ofthehighidealsoftheOlympic Games. TheCuban ~~ople, whichhasbeenconstructing socialism 90milesfromthe strongest imperialist P("Werforthelast26yearsandhasmanaged towithstand everyblowwithfirmness andheroism andvictoriouslytodefenaitsindependence andnational sovereignty, isstillreadytosetasideitstoolsandtakeupweapons withwhici.todefenditselfandtodefeatwhoever attempts toconqueritsterritory. Onreiterating oursupport fortheUnitedNations onthefortieth anniversary ofitsfounding, wealsoreiterate ourfaithinjustice, freedom, independence, development andequality foraUpeople!;. AsJoseMartisaid,"Manismorethan race,morethanwhiteorblack." TheC6anRevolution isforthisuniversal man; formankind without exploited orexploiters; andforpeaceforallStates, both b:xgeandsmall.AP/jh~~---~~---_ ..".~------------------ A/40/PV.9 98 (Mr.Malmierca Peoli, Cuba) Today,tothisaugustassembly, wereiterate ourfirmcommitment tostruggle tirelessly, alongside theunitedNations, fortheconstruction ofabetterworld. Hr.vandenBROEK(Netherlands): Afewdaysagoar~emberstatewas plunged insorrowbyamajornaturaldisaster. Asthecitizens ofMexicoare Jll(Jurning theirdeadourthoughts arewiththebereaved families. Allowmeto . extendonbehalfofthepeopleoftheNetherlands tothepeopleofMexico mydeep sympathy atthistragicevent. Thefortieth anniversary ofthisOrganization, whichwearetocelebrate ina month's time,promises tobeverybusyanddifficult forthoseresponsible forthe properandorderly conduct ofbusiness. Wearetherefore particularly happy th~ta distinguished diplomat andanoldhandatUnitedNationsaffairs willpreside over ourmeetings" Andhehasrepresented inNewYorkuntilrecently acountry which willshortly joinusinourendeavours tobuildanewEurope. Atananniversary session likethis,oneistempted todrawupabalance-sheet ofpastsuccesses andfailures of.ourorganization. Inthisconnection Iwas reminded ofaconversation nottoolongagobetween aFrenchintellectual anda Chinese philosopher. TheFrenchman askedwhathethoughtoftheFrench revolution. Thephilosopher replied thathewasnotcertain whether sufficient timehadpassedsincethenandthathetherefore preferred nottojumpto conclusions. Tomatofusthismayseemexcessively cautious. Wecan,however, drawsomehop-sfromthisobservation. Whenwelookbackon40yearsoftheUnited Nations, weseeapicture ofbothsuccesses andfailures, ofprogress andlost opportunities. Whenweembarked uponthisenterprise 40yearsagotheimmediate pastwas almosttoohorribletocClltemplate. Consequently thereseemedmuchtolookforward to.Withthechaosanddestruction oftheSecondWorldWarbehindusprogressAP/jh A/40/PV.9 99-100 . (Mr.vandenBrook,Netherlands) seemedsomehow inevitable. TheCharteroftheunitedNations bearswitness tothat mod.Promnowonnations wouldwalkhandinhand.Itwasnottobe. Soonitbecameapparent thattheCharter's systemofcollective security had beoomefrequently paralysed, anditissadtonotethat40yearslaterthis Organizatioh hasstilltoliveuptoitupromise Btosavesucceeding generations fromthescourgeofwarB•Thesituatiol'! inAfghanistan isacaseinpoint. Moreover, weseemtogetconfused bythegrowing nWllberofworld-wide problems thatstUbbornly resistsolution. AsClresult, international institutions are quietly butirresistibly erodedbyai?roce~ofsla-motion diaintegl'aU.on. Oui: Secretary-General didnotrelentfro. expz:essi,~.g inhisannualreportshisanxiety atthepresent trends,attheerosionoftheauthority andstatusofworldand regional institutions andatthecrisisinthemultilateral appE'oac:h to ;~ternational affairs. AsforthisOrganization, Icontinue tobelieve thatithasthecapacity and theresilience todobetterthanitspredecessor, theLeagueofNations, which
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement by a representative of Cuba to the United Nations, discussing various international issues, including decolonization, human rights, sports, and the role of the United Nations. The language is formal and diplomatic, indicating that the text is likely a formal address to the UN General Assembly.

**Category**
International relations, Culture