Remarks by H.E. Mr. Piero Vinci — Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations

We all know the profound and unconditional dedication of Kurt Waldheim to the United Nations Organisation, to its ideas, to its objectives — the unswerving dedication he has shown day by day, hour by hour, in carrying on his difficult and often heavy mandate here at Headquarters and in his several delicate missions abroad.

This identification of the man with the ideals of the world Organisation is the result of an entire life devoted to international relations in a higher vision of the common destiny of the human family. His long acquaintance with the UN affairs, which goes back to 1955 when he was Permanent Observer of Austria, provided him in all these years with a remarkable experience in the field of international negotiations. This unique background proved to be indispensable for the higher responsibilities that later were entrusted to him as the head of the Organisation.

I met Kurt Waldheim for the first time several years ago when, in the early sixties, we were working in our respective Foreign Offices and began to be associated in very important negotiations between Austria and Italy over an autonomous statute for the Alto Adige province. A mutual constructive spirit of comprehension led our two countries to an equitable solution of the problem. I believe that the friendly relationship which developed during the negotiations, and subsequently at the United Nations where Dr. Waldheim, as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, regularly attended the sessions of the General Assembly, were somehow beneficial. He had, at that time, to face some crucial moments and he did it with the ease which all at the UN now know and admire. The result of H.E. Mr. Piero Vinci, Permanent Representative of Italy, and Secretary-General Waldheim [photo: United Nations], his efforts and of the action of all those who played a parallel role in the negotiations, or a smaller one, like me, was an agreement which, together with the subsequent Treaty of Osimo with Yugoslavia, can be recalled as a remarkable example of how a difficult problem may be peacefully and equitably settled between neighbouring states, through mutual understanding and good will.

Dr. Waldheim himself signed, in November 1969, the Agreement as Foreign Minister of Austria. Shortly afterwards we were working once again together at the UN as Permanent Representatives of our respective countries; and I still remember with a certain emotion when some time later, I personally sat in on the meetings of the Security Council when he was elected and then re-elected Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1971 and in 1976.

Future historians will be in a better position to appraise Dr. Waldheim’s action as Secretary-General of the United Nations and the personal leading role he played in many international issues. I am convinced on my part that all the members of the UN and in particular all those who, like me, have the good fortune of knowing him personally and have had the privilege to be associated with some of his important activities, are deeply grateful for his tireless and admirable action in defense of our common ideals of peace and justice.