UN General Assembly
1973

171. The non-aligned countries have always given proof of their profound attachment to the United Nations and the principles of the Charter. They remain convinced that the Organization can be an effective instrument for promoting international peace and security, for developing co-operation and for safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms. Its call to universality is further strengthened this year by the simultaneous admission of the German Democratic Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany ' and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. We are indeed happy to welcome these three new Members which will, without doubt, help to strengthen our Organization and guarantee for it an ever greater sphere of action. 172. However, we take note of the pertinent observation of the Secretary-General when, in the introduction to his report, he stressed that "The United Nations and its family of organizations were set up to deal with the problems of a world very different from the one we live in today." [A/9001/Add. 1, p. 1.]