fourth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. I am confident that your personal talent as well as the international standing enjoyed by your country Libya, will be highly conducive to the success of the this session. On this occasion I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to your predecessor, H. E. Mr. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua, for his wise direction of our previous session. I would also like to take this opportunity to emphasize our support and appreciation for the endeavors that H. E. the Secretary-General of the United Nations is making to strengthen the role of the International Organization in today's world where there is a dire need to uphold the principles of international legitimacy and promote the values of international cooperation and full commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Mr. President, Although it is customary for us to meet here every year in the General Assembly of the United Nations to deliver statements detailing the issues of concern to our countries, as well as the endeavors that our governments have made and their positions on new developments, I hope that you will allow me to depart somewhat from this firmly established tradition. The multitude of issues, the plethora of dangers and the successive crises that are facing every member of the United Nations should not obscure the fact that we are all in the same boat and the extent of our interrelationship, interdependence and mutual influence is greater than ever before. The time has come, therefore, for us to pause, ponder and reflect. The time has come for us to recall and renew our commitment to the basic purposes underlying the establishment of the United Nations and its Charter. You may recall that the basic purpose of the Charter was to spare humanity the destructive and tragic consequences of wars, and to provide prosperity to all through cooperation within the frame of legitimacy and the supremacy of international law. --More
