UN General Assembly
1977

40. Eighthly, thanks to the common struggle of the non- aligned countries and the countries of the third world, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted pertinent resolutions on some important world problems. But those resolutions have remained a dead letter because of the abuse of the veto power by the large wealthy countries in the pursuit of their own interests. Furthermore, while competing for influence and with each other in continuing the sophisticated arms race and the sale of arms all over the world—a source of continuing tension in various parts of the world—these large wealthy Powers use the rostrum of the United Nations to dupe the peoples, to lull their vigilance, in order the better to subjugate them. At the same time, they are endeavouring to stem the tide of the national liberation struggle of peoples all over the world. This tends to reduce still further the role played by the United Nations. With all the non-aligned and third world countries, we continue to demand the urgent revision of the United Nations Charter so that the United Nations may be enabled to play its role in conformity with the realities of today's world, which is undergoing profound change. Decisions on major world issues should not be the exclusive reserve of the wealthy great Powers. All States, great or small, must have the same rights in deciding international affairs.