text: generally. That is the gist of the comments which the German Democratic Republic communicated to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 18 September 1981 (A/36/376), as requested by resolution 34/99 of 14 December 1979, and also of the statement of the representative of the German Democratic Republic in the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session. Conducting its international relations in conformity with the pledge of the community of States contained in the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations, namely "to live together in peace with one another as good neighbours", the German Democratic Republic does not view this language as an abstract appeal addressed to no one in particular. Hence, and unlike some States that have voiced doubts, it does not think that the legal specificity of the topic would be risked if consideration of the concept of good-neighbourliness should give rise to, or touch upon, problems that were or are still dealt with in other bodies of the United Nations system. The German Democratic Republic believes that no opportunity should be missed to strengthen peace in the world and to revive detente. That is why subjects on the agenda of one United Nations body should not be automatically precluded from discussions by another United Nations body of other matters for whose political evaluation such subjects would clearly be essential. This is all the more true as the norms of international law take effect only under certain historical conditions and requirements which shou~d be clearly identified and clarified for the purpose. 3. The German Democratic Republic holds the view that relations of good-neighbourliness can develop only to the extent that States have the politi~al will to strictly observe the entirety of the basic Principles of international law I ... A/40/450/Add.l English ~ge3 
analysis: The text appears to be a statement from the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on its understanding of international relations and its stance on promoting peace and detente. It discusses the concept of good-neighbourliness and its relevance to international law, without mentioning specific economic, environmental, or scientific issues. The focus is on the political will of states to observe international law and promote peace, rather than on a particular sector or issue.