UN General Assembly
1985

During a period that was not as marked as today is by a balance of terror and a threat of nuclear destruction, President Victor Paz Estenssoro stated when addressing the General Assembly in 1963: "We must advance towards the total prohibition of nuclear weapons and general and complete disarmament until finally we get to the point of outlawing war." (A/PV.1252, p. 11) He also stated on that occasion that the great Powers appeared to rely on force rather than on the law. In taking stock of the 40 years of the work of the United Nations, we observe that that warning is still valid. It is necessary for all Member States to make a decisive contribution to a campaign of disarmament to bring about peace and ensure the survival of mankind. The resources now devoted to the arms race should be freed in order to raise the standards of living of the great majority of peoples still struggling with backwardness, ignorance and hunger.