Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
UNR 227/2
Dr Young Seek Choue
Chancellor
Kyung Hee University SEOUL
Telephone 01-
Your reference
Our reference
Date 16 March 1982
attached to
13
I have been asked to thank you for your letter of 20 January to the Prime Minister, and for your words of encouragement on our con- tribution to world peace.
International years and commemorative days have become a regular feature of the UN calendar. We attach importance to observation of the UN guidelines for their implementation and frankly have reservations about their practical value.
Our commitment to peace is, of course, unequivocal. We joined the cons sus on the General Assembly Resolution to which you letter refers. But it is far from easy to see how such events as an International Year and Day of Peace can in themselves positively carry the peace process forward,. More concrete measures are required to secure security at a lower level of armaments. The only realistic way forward is through negotiation.
The UK, for its part, remains fully committed to the pursuit of arms control and disarmament and we shall continue to work with our allies a friends towards that end. The second UN Special Session will provide ‚' an important opportunity to review and to look afresh at a wide range of disarmament issues. The UK Government is giving the Session" its full support,
We hope that the discussions in New York, and any events associated with the International Year and Day of Peace will contribute in a useful and practical way to these vital issues.
P J ROBERTS
United Nations Department
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