operation ofthetraditional concept ofthe~~lanceofpower. While th~post-War version ofthebalanceofpower-orthebalance ofterror, asitissometimes called-mayhavesucceeded sofarinwardingoffa9~neral war,ithasgrievously failedtoprevent limited wars,localized conflicts andotb~rinstances offorce beingusedinamannerincompatible withthepurposes oftheCharter. Again,While itmayaffordsecurity, howeverillusory, tothemajorPowersandthosewhohave soughttheirprotection throughmilitary alliances, ithasgrievously failedto affordassured security toall,especially theweakandthesmall,thenon-aligned andthenon-armed, whosesecurity continues tobeexposed toallkindsofthreats andpressures. Forsuchcountries, thepeaceandsecurity deriving fromthepost-War system ofthebalance ofpowerlacksfullmeaning andfullcontent. Ofcourse, asmembers oftheinternational community, allofushaveavitalinterest inpreventing globalarmedconflict. Butnolessvitalforusisthequestion ofourindividual security, andIsubmitthatweshouldhaveaclearunderstanding inourmindsasto themeaning ofthis.EMS/21 A/40/fN.13 95 Toour.ind,secu1'ity il)itsimmediate sensemeansassured freedom f1'omthe threat01'useoff01'ceagainst ournattonal sove1'eignty, political independence and territorial integrity. Butinitsultimate sensesecurity cannotbutmeanassured freedom fromoutside inte1'fe1'ence inourinternal affairs inanymannerwhatsoever andfromtheapplication ofexternal pressures inanyshapeorform.Itmeansfor . eachofustherighttochoosefreelyourownpolitical, economic andsocialsystem andtodetermi.ne ourownfutureinaccordance withtheidealsthatweaspiretoand thevaluesthatinspire us.BeT/at A/40/PV.13 96 (Mr.ChitB1a1n9, Burma) I Relevant principles concerning thematters Ihavereferred toareembodied in theCharter aswellasintheDeclaration ofPrinciples ofInternational Law concerning Friendly Relations andCO-operation amongStatesandintheDeclaration ontheStrengthening ofInternational Security. Inourview,onlyuniversal and scrupulous respect forandobservance oftheseprinciples, bothinwordandin deed,couldensurefullsecurity forourcountries. Anyviolation ofthese principles anywhere~ directly orindirectly, inwhatever guiseorunderwhatever pretext, dealsagrievous blowtomankindes hopesforapeaceful andjustorder. Bythesametoken,whenever andwherever anyPower-big,smallorm~ium-resorts toar~edforceincontravention ofthesevitalprinciples, theinevitable resultis theirserious weakening anderosion, creating conditions offar-reaching implications whichareofconcern toallcountries. Wearetherefore alarmed anddistressed thatvirtually allthefocalpointsof crisesthatexistintheworldtodayhavebeentheoutcomeoftheflagrant violation oftheseprinciples -beitintheMiddleEast,Central America, South Africa, Afghanista~, Kampuchea, Namibia orCyprus. Ineachofthesesituations, therehasbeenemployment ofarmedintervention byanexternal Powerinthe internal affairsofanother independent sovereign Statetobringaboutachangeof thegovernment ofthatState. Inalmosteverycasetheproblem canberesolved onlyonthebasisofthewithdrawal offoreign troops, non-interference inthe internal affairsofthesecountries andtheexercise bythepeopleaffected ofthe righttochoosetheirowngovernment andtodetermine theirownfutureand destiny. WhetheritisintheMiddleEast,SouthAsia,South-East AsiaorAfrica, Burmacannotaccepteitherinterference oroccupation asafaitaccompli. The position efthedelegation ofBurmaontheseissueshasoftenbeenstatedatthe unitedNations, basedasitisonourunswerving andconsistent support forrespectBeT/at A/40/RV.13 97 (Mr.Chit81ain9, Burma) fortheprinciples whicharestipulated intheCharter ascardinal principles tobe observed ininter-State relations. MayInowbriefly touchuponthecloserelationship between disarmament and international peaceandsecurity. Itisfairtosaythatthepost-war armaments raceistheproduct ofthefailureoftheUnitedNations collective security system andtheconsequent reversion bynationstotheoldconcept ofthebalance ofpower tomaintain peaceandtoensuresecurity forthemselves. Butthearmaments race itselfcreatesgreater insecurity forall,and~deepening mistrust andsuspicion amongthearmedPowersgenerates itsownmomentum. Tohaltandreverseitwould require, inthefirstplace,thepromotion ofgreatertrustandconfidence among nations, andtheremovaloftheirdeep-seated senseofinsecurity. Forfartoolonghastheworldbeensplitintotwomajorcamps"withtheir leading Powersstillencumbered byserious differences andlockedinaserious contest forsupremacy. Butrecentdevelopments liketheresumption ofarmstalks andthereactivation ofsummitdiplomacy between theworld's twoleading Powers will,wehope,offersomeprospect ofreduced tension. Wehopethattheimpulse generated bythisfirststepwillproveproductive intheentirespectrum of