UN General Assembly
1970

19. Indeed, we have all declared our support for the preamble of the Charter and Articles 1 and 2, and yet it took more than eight years for agreement to come about on the seven principles of international law concerning friendly relations and cooperation among States. I said "for an agreement to come about", in spite of the existence of the draft declaration [A/8018, para. 83] submitted by the Special Committee, because profound and appreciable differences of opinion continue to exist. 20. Many conflicts could have been prevented if these principles, which are of equal importance and set forth in the Charter, had been wholly respected and put into effect. I am thinking particularly of the principle of renunciation of the threat or use of force; that of nonintervention in the national affairs of States; and also that of equal rights of peoples and their right to self determination.