26
Unprecedented challenge of the future

Anyone who has the privilege to stand at this rostrum to address the General Assembly must be keenly aware of the special sense of responsibility because the U.N. is an instrument for shaping the destiny of mankind. How we fulfil this responsibility will depend upon the perception of our common mission and our firm resolve in implementing our decisions.

Three decades ago, our founding fathers conceived of this organisation as a means for harmonising the views and actions of States in a common effort "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and "to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom". An embittered world shattered by the destructive fury of war was soon enmeshed in the hostile confrontation of opposing military alliances. The "cold war" threatened to nullify the hopes enshrined in our Charter. Vast numbers of people still lived under colonial subjugation for whom the Charter could have no meaning until they were freed from foreign domination.

Many old empires have since been dismantled and colonial rule has been ended in most parts of the world, signifying the victory of the forces of national liberation. The United Nations has made its own contribution towards expediting this process. More than half the delegations present here represent countries liberated from colonial rule. We have watched with satisfaction the U.N. moving steadily closer to its goal of full universality.