পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/২৭৮

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড

 We certainly are making a great effort. We may not always succeed but we are making an effort to approach problems everywhere, including in South Asia, with this attitude. As I have pointed out in innumerable backgrounders, the attempt to achieve unilateral advantage sooner or later will lead to an escalation of tensions which must jeopardize the prospects of relaxation. We hope that the Soviet Union will use its undoubted influence to approach problems in the sub-continent in the same spirit and not to jeopardize the very hopeful evolution that has started by a short-term approach, but we are still waiting to see. We have no judgment yet.

 Q. Is it a proper role for a great nation which has maintained a posture of impartiality in South Asia for about 25 years now to take a side or to appear to take a side in this present crisis?

 Dr. KISSINGER. Well, we have attempted to alleviate the suffering and we have attempted to be true to our principles of giving people an opportunity to determine their political future, but we have not done it in a pressing way. We have done it in an attempt to preserve the peace with the approval of both sides. With respect to the immediate issue which is before the United Nations, we have an obligation to make clear for the sake of peace that we do not favor recourse to military forces as a member of the United Nations, and as one of the principal countries in the world.

 So, you have to separate, Peter, our attitude towards the overall problem from our attitude towards the immediate problem. On the immediate problem the facts are that, one, the vote in the Security Council has been 11 to 2. There were only two countries against our position-the Soviet Union and Poland. Eleven other countries supported our position. It is not our position. It is not a quarrel between us and India. It is our attempt to make clear to the world community that we do stand for a peaceful resolution of disputes, and it would be wrong to say one side hits 600 million, and whoever has the power to settle disputes by force should do it. That would lead to international anarchy.

 So what was said on Saturday refers to the military actions that are no taking place, and what was said today was to put our overall attitude in its right perspective...

 The Press, thank you.