themanagement ofinternational affairs, abouttheability ofinternational organizations totacklethemostdifficult problems ofourtime.Itispossible to seewhythishashappened. Sincetheearly1970stheUnitedNations hasappeared increasingly marginal initscentral taskofpreventing aggression andresolving conflict. Thearmsracecontinues. Mistrust andfearpervade therelations betweenStates. Oldconflicts continue andnewoneshavebrokenout.Issuessuch asthoseofAfghanistan, Kampuchea, theIran-Iraq war,apartheid, Namibia, are listedonouragendayearafteryear,annualreminders ofourunwilingness or inability tomakethesystemwork.Thereisagravedisproportion between the quanity ofworkengaged in-allthefrenetic activity intheHallandinthe corridors -andthequality oftheresults achieved. Sometimes itseems------------------_._- BM/8 A/40/PV.13 27 (Mr.Barry,Ireland) thatwemeasure success moreinterms ofmeetings held,documents issuedand resolutions adopted thaninthenumberoflivessavedordisputes settled or conflicts avoided. Intheperception ofourpublic, rhetoric andposturing have alltoooftentakentheplaceofserious negotiations anddiplomacYJ narrow national interest hassupplanted abroader collective vision. Ifthispictures seemssomewhat sombreinthisanniversary year,itmustbe setbesidetheOrganization's greatachievements overthepastfourdecades: its contribution totheprocess ofdecolonizationJ itsefforts toprotect andpromote humanrightsworld-wideJ thecontribution oftheUnitedNations anditsspecialized agencies todevelopment, totheeradication ofdisease andhunger, toeducation; theUnitedNations achievements inthefieldofdisarmament, inparticular the TreatyontheNon-Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons; andthecrucial parttheUnited Nations peace-making andpeace-keeping machinery hasplayedinhelping toresolve ormitigate several conflicts thatthreatened toescalate totheinternational level. Whenwepointtothedeficiencies intheoperation oftheUnitedNations we mustpointalsototheseenduring achievements, without whichtheworldwouldbea lesssafeandalesshumaneplace. YetwecannotignorewhattheSecretary-General hasdescribed asthecrisisin themultilateral approach tointernational relations. Mr.PerezdeCuellar has,in hisfourannualreports, outlined indetailthedimensions ofthecrisisandthe consequences forhumanity ifitisnotovercome. Whatneedstobedonetorestore confidence intheconstructive possibilities oftheUnitedNations? First,Ibelieve weneedtoestablish asenseofrealism aboutwhattheUnited Nations cando.TheOrganization isanimperfect institution operating ina complex anduncertain world.Itisanillusion tothinkthatdisputes and antagonisms canbeeradicated totally frominternational life.TheywillpersistBM/8 A/40/W.13 28 (Mr.~Y, Ireland) aslongasthenationStateexists. Whatisneededinaninternational framework sufficiently strongandinwhichstateshavesufficient confidence toensurethat antagonisms aremanaged andconflicts avoided. Theprimary taskoftheuni~_. Nations mustbetoensurethatthepressures anddivisions whichareintrinsic to aninternational systemofnationStatesdonotleadtowar.Weshouldnotdespair because humanity isdivided, butweshouldseetoitthatthedividedoesnotwiden toengulfus. Secondly, Statesmustcometorecognize thattheyhavecommoninterests which transcend national differences andwhichcanbeservedbetterbyco-operative effortthanbyindividual action. Thereisanevident needforStatestousethe mechanisms andprocedures oftheUnitedNations asanalternative tothethreator useofforcetoresolvetheirdifferences. This,itseemstome,liesatthecore ofthemalaise whichafflicts theUnitedNations today. Inthisconnection itis welltorecallthatitwasalackofconfidence inco-operative actionthat hastened theendofthefirsteffortatcollective security inthiscentury. We mustnotletithappenagain. Anecessary condition forthesuccess oftheUnited Nationsisadetermination andwillingness onthepartofitsmembership to co-operate inmakingtheUnitedNations systemwork. Thirdly, thereisthequestion ofleadership. TheCharter proclaims the sovereign equality ofallMembers, butwewouldbemisguided ifwebelieved that eachofushadanequalcapacity toinfluence events. Itisclearthatifitisto succeed theUnitedNations mustdealwiththerealities ofpowerininternational life.ThatiswhythemajorPowershavebeengivenspecial rightsunderthe Charter, including therightofvetointheSecurity Council. Thecorollary of thisisthatthosesamePowers, whichdohavetheability toinfluence events, must taketheleadinmakingthesystemrelevant andeffective. Ibelieve thatifthose Statesweretoassumetheirresponsibilities inaddressing contemporaryA/40/PV.,13 29-30 (Mr.Barry,Ireland) international illstheywouldfindare~dyandpositive response amongthebroad
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a speech or an essay about the role and effectiveness of the United Nations in international relations, focusing on the challenges it faces in preventing aggression, resolving conflicts, and promoting collective security. It discusses the organization's achievements and shortcomings, as well as the need for states to cooperate and take leadership roles in addressing global issues.

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