UN General Assembly
1969

benefit of mankind, as well as the economic and other requirements which such a regime should satisfy in order to meet the interests of humanity as a whole. The Committee was further empowered to study and make recommendations to the General Assembly on the reservation of the area for peaceful purposes, taking into account the studies and international negotiations being undertaken in the field of disarmament. 166. Assessments regarding the progress that the Committee has made during the course of the year will vary. The criterion of achievement is invariably expectation. Though progress may be regarded by some as being too slow, it is necessary to bear in mind the immensity of the technical problems that still remain to be overcome, the novelty of some of the legal concepts which the Committee has had to consider, and the diversity of political and economic interests involved. 167. Speaking as the representative of my Government and not in my capacity as Chairman of the Committee, I should like to state that in the view of my Government the