UN General Assembly
1972

272. The last session of the General Assembly began under the symbol of hope and understanding, but the year that has elapsed has only confirmed the apprehensions then voiced at length from this rostrum. In fact, at a time when a healthier atmosphere seemed progressively to prevail in the relations among the great Powers, increasingly serious crises were affecting other parts of the world. 273. Without prejudging the true motivations of the great Powers in overcoming the obstacles of the cold war, we had hoped that the evolution of the world would take a new tack, where the fundamental principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations would finally be fully implemented, to the benefit of the international community as a whole.