UNGA: UN Observers in Czechoslovakia and Condemnation of Threats Against Czechoslovak Sovereignty

[OYID]

Permanent Albanian Mission to the United Nations

Delegates of the United Nations General Assembly, allow me to cast your minds back to 1956 and the winter chill of the Hungarian counter-revolution. Amidst chaos and deceit sowed by counter-revolutionaries and reactionaries - enemies of the honest Hungarian workers and peasants - measures were taken by great patriots to restore the rightful Hungarian government.

It is shameful in this day and age that such noble measures in Hungary are being co-opted by social-imperialists in order to make a mockery of the independence of the Czechoslovakian people. Though no actions have been taken yet, we are aware of proposals to punish the Czechoslovak government for its departure from the revisionist and morally corrupt line adopted by the Soviet Union, which still considers itself to be the sole arbiter of Marxism-Leninism's true path. Free communist countries must stand firm against such darkness and imperialism.

It is important that the world make its voice heard in the rejection of any attempts to interfere in Czechoslovakian matters. We motion to allow UN observers to enter Czechoslovakia, and for all nations in the region to respect their independence.

Albania votes in favor.

[Gesar]

Hugh Mackintosh Foot, Baron Caradon
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

That the Soviet Union would even consider measures hostile to Czechoslovakia -their own ally- and their integral sovereignty is a violation of not only the numerous principles that make the United Nations what it is, but of the stated beliefs of their own government and ideology. While we cannot as of yet adopt the certainty of the Albanian government on the Soviet position, I can only find it appropriate to send observers lest hesitation cost the Czechoslovakian people the freedom they so deserve.

The United Kingdom votes yes.

[Master of Oblivion]

Yakov Malik
Permanent Representative of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics to the United Nations

The Albanian motion makes a mockery of everything the United Nations stands for. Albania has a suspicion that the USSR is going to intervene in the politics of the Czech Republic? Our we going to base our actions upon a "feeling" or hunch", instead of objective fact? Albania's hunch is drive by their ideological disposition towards paranoia, nationalism, and a hatred of the concept of peaceful coexistence. There is no material basis for this action.

Albania seeks to pit the Soviet Union against the West by calling for the positioning of foreign troops within the Warsaw Pact. They understand that this will bring the USSR and USA to tensions not seen since the incident in Cuba. It is there hope that a war breaks out between the USA and the USSR. They seem to lack the clarity to percieve that this conflict will lead to destruction of civilization as we know it.

The USSR votes no and implores other nations to do the same.

[scorpion]

While China would like to voice concern over the situation developing in Czechoslovakia, a fellow socialist state, and rumors of Soviet intentions in the country, we do not believe placement of troops inside Czechoslovakia is warranted, by the UN or the Soviet Union for that matter at this time. As both would only serve to escalate tensions in the region and throughout the world. However, China is strongly opposed to the Brezhnev Doctrine and what it implies for all socialist states. It is in this light that China considers voting in favor unless Soviet ambassadors can assure us that the rumors of Soviet intervention in the region are not true.

[Huojin]

Arthur Joseph Goldberg
Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations

We encourage the Soviet and... Communist Chinese representatives, the latter of which seems somehow to have found his way into the General Assembly despite being the representative of neither a member state or recognised observer... to examine the text of the Albanian proposal more carefully. The proposal calls for United Nations observers - not peacekeepers, not a military force, merely observers. We seem to recall a similar special commission being established by this Assembly for the purpose of investigating events in Hungary 12 years ago - perhaps the civilian nature of that body and its representatives will give ease to troubled minds.

In any case, as an accredited diplomatic representative of the United States of America, I firmly assured Mr. Malik that the United States has no interest in interfering in Czechoslovakian domestic matters, nor do we wish to bring about a wider conflict with the Soviet Union. Might I assume a similar position is held in the Kremlin? If that is the case, we see no reason why this resolution cannot be allowed to proceed, instructing as it does merely the deployment of civilian observers and a reaffirmation of respect for Czechoslovakia's sovereignty. Nonetheless, if the Soviet representative will firmly assure this Assembly that his government harbours no intentions of interference itself, this matter may well be moot.

Until such a time, the United States votes yes, though remains prepared to withdraw our vote in the case of a satisfactory assurance from the USSR and its fellow Warsaw Pact allies.

[OYID]

Liu Chieh
Permanent Representative and Ambassador of China to the United Nations

The world cannot stand by and ignore the threat that hangs over all of Central and Eastern Europe. Only by the placement of observers and assurances of non-intervention can the international community safeguard against violations of the peace. Whether this is done by enforcement of this resolution or arranged freely is yet to be seen. We vote yes.

[Master of Oblivion]

Yakov Malik
Permanent Representative of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics to the United Nations

The Soviet Union would like to remind our friends from the USA and the United Kingdom that the Albanian representative has not brought proof of this claim forward. He is asking the United Nations to act upon a whim. If the UN makes it a policy to follow the paranoid request of any given head of state without any evidence, we can assure you that this organization will run out of funding and legitimacy in five years time.

The members of the Warsaw Pact that are in good standing are meeting Bratislava to discuss ideological and economic questions. This meeting will show the international community that there is harmony among the members of the Warsaw Pact and that our differences can be solved with diplomacy and logic, instead of force.

The Soviet Union votes no

[Huojin]

Arthur Joseph Goldberg
Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations

We share the concerns of the Soviet delegate that this may ultimately prove fruitless. However without meaning any disrespect to General Secretary Brezhnev, his predecessor in that office did order the intervention in Hungary in 1956. We do not doubt that the General Secretary will have taken on board the lessons learned from that event, given that this issue has been raised in the United Nations, we cannot see how the international community can ignore it. We hope the truth of Mr. Malik's words will stand, and demonstrate to the world that peaceful resolution is both attainable and the sole intention of all parties involved.