UN General Assembly
1964

1. Allow me at the outset to express to you, Mr. President, the sincere congratulations of the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic on your election as President of the nineteenth session of the General Assembly. It is a source of great satisfaction to see you presiding in this difficult period of the life of our Organization, at a time when only men of your calibre can steer our deliberations. We consider your election as a great tribute not only to you as a person of high qualities, but also to your country and to the whole continent of emerging Africa. The fact that you are presiding today, only two years after a distinguished fellow African presided over this august Assembly, is an eloquent recognition of the resourcefulness and the ever-increasing role of the African continent. 2. We are in duty bound to express also our appreciation to the outgoing President for the eminent qualities which he displayed during his tenure of office, and which reflected vividly the Latin American tradition of wisdom and deep sense of justice.