In 1957, King Saud bin Abdulaziz—may God have mercy on him—delivered an address before the United Nations in which he affirmed that humanity had placed its greatest and dearest hopes in the United Nations, whose Charter, more than eleven years earlier, heralded the dawn of a new era of peace, freedom, and hope among all peoples. The principles of the Charter found sincere response and warm welcome among my nation. We are, by nature, a peaceful people, and many of you surely know that the very meaning of “Islam” is peace, and that our daily greeting is a wish of peace from one to another.
Principles of International Cooperation
King Saud emphasized that Islamic law had, more than thirteen centuries ago, established that all people are equal, and that God created them as nations and tribes so that they may know one another and cooperate. In doing so, it laid down the foundations of international cooperation, lasting peace, mutual security, and the principles of repelling aggression and supporting the oppressed.
He stated: We believe in human and spiritual values, in moral ideals, and in the right of every human being to a free, dignified, and secure life, and in sincere and fruitful cooperation among people for their common good.
Regulating Relations Among Nations
King Saud continued: For this reason, it was natural for us to hope that the principles of the United Nations would become the constitution governing relations among nations, without distinction between great and small; that the causes of disputes between states would disappear; that nations would be freed from fear and the threat of aggression; and that they would devote themselves to constructive work and to building a happy society.
But policies of domination and adherence to outdated, worn‑out tendencies have often cast humanity into the fires of war, causing suffering, destruction, and turmoil. Such policies have strayed from the principles of justice embodied in the United Nations Charter, losing the right path and failing to achieve success. In these misguided policies lie the roots of the tension, unrest, and instability into which humanity has fallen today. They are the cause of the Cold War we witness, and of the arms race that drains much of humanity’s resources and directs them toward destruction and ruin. They are also at the heart of the aggression, fighting, hostility, and hatred that the United Nations has seen in various parts of the world.
The Evils of Crises
King Saud added that returning to the fold of the United Nations, restoring relations among nations to its principles and teachings, adhering to the Charter in both letter and spirit, and enabling peoples who seek freedom and independence to determine their own destinies—this is the only path to spare humanity the evils of crises and the scourge of wars, and to inaugurate a new era of genuine peace and mutual understanding among nations—an era marked by love and sincere cooperation for the good of all mankind.
Reviving Hope
King Saud said: Fortunately for humanity, we have witnessed in this organization in recent days a renewed momentum that has revived hope and restored some confidence. We have observed a commendable determination to uphold its principles and to move in the right direction. The efforts made by Secretary‑General Dag Hammarskjöld toward this goal have had a praiseworthy impact deserving of appreciation and gratitude.
He expressed his sincere hope that the United Nations would persevere in upholding its principles, drawing inspiration from the ideals of justice and respect for human rights affirmed in its Charter, and that it would continue with firm resolve to fulfill its noble mission and safeguard international peace and security. By doing so, it will restore its prestige and become, in truth and merit, the refuge of humanity.