Nations hasinfactsolvedalargenumberofconflicts duringthelast40years, someofwhichcouldhaveeasilyledtoworldwar. LetusalsolistentothevoiceswhichsaythattheUnitedNations has provided Stateswhichcannotaffordtomaintain diplomatic missions in158other capitals withacost-efficient, uniquemultilateral instrument, nam~lyUnited Nations Headquarters; thattheUnitedNations haswritten aphilosophy ofhuman lifeintheUniversal Declaration ofHumanRightsandintheHumanRights Covenants~ thattheUnitedNations hasprovided theworld,forthefirsttimein history, withthenecessary data,statistics andinformation oneveryaspectofthe humancondition andhabitat; andthattheUnitedNations hascreated asystemof specialized agencies andworldprogrammes whichfacilitate theidentification and assessment ofworldproblems, aswellasinternational actiontohelpresolve them. LetuspauseandlistentothosewhosaythattheUnitedNations hass~ved livesandproperty byissuing warnings onglobalproblems suchaspopulation growth, theenvironment, energy, water,habitat, theclimate anddesertification, .._i _A/40/PV.l 8 (TheTemporary President) amongothers, t.hattheUnitedNations hasrendered inunenseservice tochildren, women,theelderly andthehandicap~d, andthat it~worldconferences on international yearshavepromoted actionforthesesocialgroups, and,finally, thattheUnitedNations hascreated newrEgimes fortwocommons ofhumanity: outer spaceandtheseasandoceans. Ihaveheardotherviewsandperceptions ofourOrganization. Ofcoursethey varyfromcountry tocountry, fromsocialgrouptosocialgroup,buttheyall reflect theinunense complexity ofhumancomplaints andaspirations. This Organization i.sperhaps thelargest mirrornations andpeoples haveeverhad through whichtolookatthemselves. Onthisfortieth anniversary wearereceiving aworld-wide evaluation, avast balance-sheet, withitspositive andnotsoPositive sides. Therehavebeenand therewillbemanysuggestions onh,1Wwecanimprove ontherecordofour Organization. Asizeable numberofideas,proposals andplansfromvarious 60~rces hasbeenadvocated. Manyhavealready beensubmitted totheOrganization. Allof themareworthconsidering. Itwillbethetaskofthissession oftheAssembly to evaluate allthevarious proposals. Incidentally, therecentmeetingofpast Presidents oftheGeneral Assembly whichwasorganized bytheUnitedNations Institute forTraining andResearch hasalready forwarded, through the Secretary-General, asetofconclusions asitscontribution tothedebateonhowto improve theimpactoftheUnitedNations. Allowmetosingleoutonesimplebutimportant suggestion, namely, theneed forbetterknowledge andinformation abouttheUnitedNations. Isha,efullythe hopeoftheSecretary-General expressed inhisstatement of31May1984that "1985willwitness thebeginning ofaserious educative efforttofoster world-wide information abouttheUnitedNations andthatGovernments, the mediaandeducators willplayanimportant roleinthisendeavour".A/40/W.l 9-10 (TheTemporary President) Thefactisthatmuchofthemisconception abouttheactivities oftheunited Nations anditsroleinthepursuitofworldpeacecanbeattributed. to misinformation andlackofinformation: Thegathering ofHeadsofStateandGovernment duringthissessionofthe Assembly shouldbeapplauded. Itismyhopethatitwillbefruitful andthatit willleadtomanybilateral encounters, friendship, business transactions, recommitment andnewideasforenhancing international understanding and co-operation intheyearsahead.Itisalsomyhopethattheleaderswillreturn homewithaninnersatisfaction thattheydidagoodjob.Perhaps, ashasbeen suggested, theymaywishtoholdsuchencounters annually duringfuturesessions of theGeneral Assembly. Andspeaking ofsummitgatherings, wenotethatthiscommemorative session of theGeneral Assembly coincides withwhatweallprayandhopewillbea constructive summitmeeting between President ReaganoftheUnitedStatesof America andGeneral-Secretary Gorbachev ofthetinionofSovietSocialist Republics. Thiscouldwellbeaprelude toanentirely neweraininternational relations.IA/40/PV.l 11 (TheTemporary President) Wewhoareassembled herewill,inthenextfewdaysbegintoargue,toagree anddisagree, todebateanddelibe~ate, todiverge andcoalesce andtovoteand resolve. Allthatispartoftheprocessofpeace-building. Thatprocesswillnot becomplete untilwemakeourconsensus operational, untilweimplement our resolutions anddecisions whenweleavethisbuilding attheendofthesession. Asaformer P~esident oftheGeneral Assembly, asadelegate andasahuman being,Ihavemanyhopesforthisfortieth session. Oneofthemisthatwhatever wedowillbedoneinthespiritofthe.theme: IiUnited Nations forabetterworld.· ITEM4OFTHEPROVISIONAL AGENDA ELECTION OFTHEPRESmENT OFTHEGENERAL ASSEMBLY !!:!.TEMPORARY PRESmEN'l': Inowinvitemembers oftheGeneral Assembly to proc~ed '-~ti~ee1ection ofthePresident ofthefortieth sessionoftheGeneral