UN General Assembly
1989

Another obstacle on the road to more just treatment of States, and hence to relations that would give equal weight to everybody's needs, is the conduct of some countries, peoples and leaders who put their own interest before the general interest. That is why there is still inequality in international economic relations. There is a covert denial of the principles concerning recognition of the sovereign equality of States, the freedom of each State or people to choose the economic or political system that best meets its national interests, tine peaceful coexistence of States, and the imposition of pre-conditions on some countries with regard to their co-operation arrangements, thus restricting their right to freedom and sovereignty simply because they are receiving such co-operation.