Michael S. Comay, chairman of the Israel delegation to the United Nations, lauded Burma’s Ambassador U Thant, newly elected acting UN Secretary-General, as well as his Government, in addressing the General Assembly here following Mr. Thant’s election as acting successor to the late Dag Hammarskjold.
“Nothing could have given us greater satisfaction,” Mr. Comay said, “than to see this office being filled by a man who is so highly esteemed, a man of impeccable integrity, moral courage and high intelligence, with these qualities graced by a deep humility and quiet wisdom, derived to a large extent from the humanism and spirituality of the creed to which he adheres.” Mr. Thant is a Buddhist.
Israel’s confidence in Mr. Thant, declared Mr. Comay, “is strengthened by the ties of friendship and cooperation which bind Israel, a small country in Western Asia, to Burma, our sister State in Southeast Asia.” Mr. Comay pledged Israel’s cooperation which, he said, would be available to Mr. Thant “at every step along the road which lies ahead of him. He is assuming one of the most exacting and complex tasks in the world, Mr. Comay said, and only a spirit of service to mankind could make any man subject himself to these tasks, or make any Government release so valued a representative.”
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