UN General Assembly
1972

137. In formulating that wish I must turn my eyes towards the ancient continent of Asia, from which so many messages of peace emanated, but which today offers the distressing spectacle of one of the most horrible human tragedies: I refer to the War in IndoChina. 138. The VietNamese people, tragically torn asunder by a horrible fratricidal war of 20 years duration, have undeniably shown to South-East Asia a spirit of determination and sacrifice, until now unsuspected. Because their thirst for freedom and their refusal to capitulate has surely converted the VietNamese conflict into the martyrdom of an entire people, it appears to us that there, as elsewhere, negotiation remains the Only course towards a constructive peace, since it would be freely consented to. Without further delay the United Nations must echo the words of President Senghor, who stated recently: "It is time for weapons to be silent in VietNam as well as in the Middle East so that a just and durable peace may come, based upon the self-determination of peoples, without foreign intervention."