UN General Assembly
1985

Like my predecessors during the past four decades, I will at the outset deliver the recurring opening salvo, so to speak, of our yearly policy statements before this forum, which is a resounding call to all nations to heed the universal clamor for peace and the rule of law in international relations. If the Philippines persists in its efforts to pursue the course of peace it is because we have suffered successive invasions and domination by many foreign Powers. That is why as early as 1935 we solemnly enshrined in our Constitution a declaration renouncing war as an instrument of national policy, and adopted the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of our land. In 1973 we expanded those noble objectives by proclaiming in a new Constitution our adherence to a policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, co-operation and amity with all nations. Thus, it is inevitable that we share the frustrations of many of our brothers and sisters here present at the slow progress towards universal peace.