text: Thefounding fathers oftheUnitedNations aresometimes accused ofnaive Utopianism. Supposedly theyignored therealities ofpowerpolitics inattempting tocreateaglobalsystemofcollective security. Idoubtit.Themenandwomen whosetupthis Orgard~ation 40yearsagowereamongthegr;.eatstatesmen ofthe century. Theydrafted theCharter asasetofstandards forinternational conduct -knowingfull wel~thattheworld's nations probably wouldfallshortof thosestandards, butknowing alsothatthesetting ofhighgoalsisanecessary precondition totheirpursuit andattainment. TheloftygoalsoftheCharter haveaconcrete, practical meaning today. They notonlypointthewaytoabetterworld;theyreflect someofthemostpowerful currents atworkinthecontemporary world. Thestriving forjustice, freedom,BG/9 A/40/PV"4 33" (Mr.Shultz, Unitedstates) progress and'peace isanever~presentand'Po~erful reality thatistOday,'morethan ever,impressing itself'on international politics. Ourpolitical thinking mustcatchuptothisreality. Thepolicies ofnations mustadapttothisbasichumanstriving. Thisvrganization, too,mustadaptto realitYJitcannotaffordtoconsumeitselfinpolitical warfare andunrealistic posturing. Thereisworktobedone.'Letusdoit. Theworldcommunity facesenormous challenges inthreeareas: insatisfying mankind's yearning fordemocracy, freedom andjustice; inpreserving andperfecting globalpeaceandstability; andinspreading economic prosperity andprogress. First,thequestfordemocracy andfreedom. SincetheendoftheSecondWorld War,moderncommunication hasopenedtheeyesofmostoftheworld's peoples tothe realization thattheydonothavetolivetheirlivesinpoverty anddespairJthat, onthecontrary, theblessings ofprosperity andliberty knowninthepastonlyby arelative fewcanbetheirsaswell.Theidealsforwhichthewarwasfought, and thespreadofdemocracy andofprosperity intheindustrialized worldsince, created anexplosion ofexpectations. Theresu~thasbeeninrecentyearsarevolution ofdemocratic aspirations sweeping theworld. AtthetimeoftheSanFrancisco Conference in1945,mostof thenations represented inthishalltodaywerenotindependent Statesbut possessions -,olonies ofEuropean empires. Thevastnumberoflanguages~ cultures andtraditions thatIcannowseebefore metestifytotherevolution intheworld order. Theoldempires eventually hadtoacceptthepost-war realityof self-determination andnational independence. Muchoftheconflict intheworldtodaystemsfromtherefusalofsome governments toacceptthereality thattheaspirations ofpeoplefordemocracy and freedom simplycannotbesuppressed foreverbyforce.BG/9 A/40J,W.4 34-35 (MrrShultz, UnitedStates) InSOUth..~frica, theseaspirCitiQPs OnthepartofthebLackmajority have(as never ..,">:!ore, drawnglobalattention andsuppo~t. Cha~geisinevitable. Theissue isnotwhether apartheid :i.!3tobedismantled, buthowi'U19when.Andthen,what replaces it;racewar,bloodbath. andnewformsofinjustice? Orpolitical accommodation andracial ce~~istence inajustsociety? Theoutcome depends on whether andhowquickly theSouthAfrican Government canacceptthenewreality, andonwhether menandwomenofpeaceonbothsidescanseizetheopportunity beforeitistoolate..wK/10 "'4DIp-V.4 36 (Mr.Shultz, Unitedstates) thererapstbenegotiation amongSouthAfricans ofall ThisIII1chisclear: ( racesonconstitutional reform. TruepeacewillcomeonlywhentheGovernment negotiates with,ratherthanlocksup,representative blackleaders. Theviolence willendonlywhen ~llparties:begil) amutualsearchforajustsystemof governmc;mt. Oneareawherethefuturehasbrightened inthepastfiveyearsasthe aspirations ofthepeopletodemocracy havebeenmetincountryaftercountryis LatinAmerica -asPresident Sarneyjustsaidsoeloquently. Incontrast toonly 30percentin1979,todaymorethan90percentofthepeopleof.LatinAmerica liveunderGovernments thatareeitherdemoCratic orclearly ontheroadto democracy. InCentral. America, ElSalvador, underthecourageous leadership of President Duarte, hasshownthatdemocracy cantakerootandthrivee"eninthe lIQstdiffimtlt terrain. Itscitizens havebravedextremist violence toparticipate overwhelmingly infourfreeelections since1982.TheirPresident's current personal ordealonlyservestounderscore thesacrifices thousands ofSalvadorians continue tomakeastheyfi@httorealize theidealsoftheUnitedNations Charte::. Porthiscommitment theyshouldbeapplau~ed byallMembers. Ironically, Elsalvador istodaytheonlydemocracy subject tothescrutiny ofaspecial rapporteur forhumanrights. AmongElSalvador's neighbours, CostaRicahaslongbeentheregion's beacon ofrepresentative government, Honduras isabouttoreplace onefreely-elected government withanother; andGuatemala isaboutto'join themasademocratic nation withtheelection ofapresident inNovember. Thesedevelopments shouldenhance regional co-operation foreconomic development, whichtheUnitedStatessupports
analysis: The text discusses the founding of the United Nations, the importance of democracy, freedom, and peace, and the challenges faced by the international community. It also highlights the progress made in promoting democracy and human rights in various regions, including Latin America and Central America. The text does not specifically focus on economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues, but rather on the political and human aspects of international relations.