Remarks by H.E. Mr. Jorge Illueca — Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations

Living in the nuclear age and being on the threshold of an inter-planetary era, mankind looks to the United Nations as the only hope for peace and world order. We have accepted the Charter of the United Nations, under which basic inalienable human rights are assured for all regardless of origin, race or creed.

Kurt Waldheim, the Secretary-General of the World Organization, has dedicated himself with increasing devotion to the great cause of implementing these rights, leading the human race to a system of international cooperation among nations to put an end to the sufferings of that big portion of humanity which is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, discriminated against and insecure. As an advocate of peace, justice and friendly relations, he works constantly to improve human conditions in the masses of population of the Third World.

My country can never forget what Kurt Waldheim did when the Security Council met at Panama City in 1973 to deal with problems affecting the international peace and security in the Latin American region, including the Panama Canal question. Invoking “the spirit of our time,” Waldheim pleaded in favour of a solution of the Panama problem “which can only be based on the respect for law and the search for justice.” In his opinion such “a solution will have to take into account the basic principles which are enshrined in the Charter,” such as the principle of territorial integrity, sovereign equality, the obligation to settle all international disputes by peaceful means and the principle which by now has become an accepted common standard, namely that any State is entitled to put to full use and for its own account all its natural potentialities. Waldheim's courageous standing in the defense of Panama's rightful place in the community of nations helped to pave the way for the new Panama Canal Treaties of 1977 between the United States and Panama.

Kurt Waldheim, with his deep sense of truth and integrity, his wise conviction of the relevance of international law to world affairs, his objective approach to political realities, his endless measure of devotion to the ideals of the United Nations and his feelings of understanding, humanity and compassion, deserves the tribute paid to him by the United Nations Meditation Croup as the spiritual Architect of a new world society under which a real basis of security, peace and prosperity can be established for all mankind.