UN General Assembly
1959

97. It is indisputable that man's entry into outer space, if properly exploited, can have most beneficial effects on the progress of human society. The United Nations, as the body representing world opinion, must and indeed has already begun to play an immense role in this sphere and to ensure that the common interest of mankind in outer space be utilized for the prosperity and well-being of the human race. 98. Another question of great significance and one which cannot be omitted in any discussion of contemporary international life is that of the emergence of nations from foreign domination. In the course of the last decade, a number of nations have gained independence, and more will undoubtedly join in the community of sovereign nations. Indeed, independence movements represent the spirit of our times; they are the logical process of an historical phenomenon, and forces of freedom and social progress constitute a most potent factor in shaping our present and future world.