Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves.

Intercommunal talks were begun in June 1968 through the good offices of the secretary-general as part of the settlement. In April 1964 Thant accepted the Holy See’s designation of itself as a permanent observer. On the day of U Thant's funeral on December 5 1974 tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Rangoon to pay their last respects.

"U" is an honorific in Burmese roughly equal to "Mr". "Thant" was his only name.