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Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Allow me to extend our warm felicitations on your election as the President of
the General Assembly. We congratulate H.E. Mr. Julian Hunte for his successful
stewardship of the 58th Session of the Assembly.
I also reaffirm our very deep appreciation for the wise leadership of the
Secretary General, H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, and his services for the cause of peace
and progress in the world.
Mr. President,
A profound transformation is underway in international relations. The dangerous
balances of the Cold War have been replaced by the complex and equally dangerous
realities of our world today. It is a world marked by intensifying globalization
– of economies, production, trade and information, on one side, and terrorist
violence, poverty and disease, on the other.
The growing asymmetries in power among States, discrimination in the
dispensation of international justice, repression of peoples’ legitimate
aspirations, and growing socio-economic disparities, have precipitated “new
threats” to international peace and security: The threat of terrorism,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and imploding States. The world
today sees turmoil and upheaval everywhere – especially in the Third World and
more specifically in the Muslim World. Too many fronts have been opened, too
many battle lines drawn. The time for closing fronts has come. The world today
is crying for peace, reconciliation and reform. Our objective today has to be
harmony through reconciliation and accommodation, globally and regionally.
Mr. President,
Terrorism poses the most urgent threat to many countries, including the most
powerful States. For many of us, the terrorist threat is close and personal.
Terrorism threatens Pakistan’s vital national interests and objectives. We have
thus participated actively in the unprecedented global campaign against it.
Pakistan has led the way in this campaign. Our counter-terrorist campaign is
ongoing.
The global cooperation against Terrorism has been highly successful. Determined
and collective action has contained and disrupted the violent agendas of the
terrorists. We are winning the battle against terrorists. However, what we are
doing is insufficient to win the ultimate war against them. The immediate
anti-terrorist response has to be accompanied by a clear, long-term strategy
striking at the root of the problem if we are to ensure final success against
this scourge.
Mr. President,
I had proposed the two pronged strategy of Enlightened Moderation to overcome
terrorism and prevent a clash of civilizations. The last Islamic Summit in
Malaysia endorsed this plan which involves, on the one hand, internal
socio-economic reform in the Muslim world and, on the other, active support from
the major powers to ensure political justice and socio-economic revival for all
Islamic peoples. While the Islamic World has taken its first step in the form of
nominating a Commission of Eminent Persons to propose measures for a Renaissance
in the Muslim World, the major powers of the West have yet to show movement, by
seriously trying to resolve internationally recognized disputes affecting the
Muslim world.
The industrialized world must support the endeavour for an Islamic renaissance
especially through adequate financial and technical assistance and larger trade
opportunities. Most importantly, justice must be offered to Islamic peoples in
the form of resolution of all outstanding international disputes which affect
Muslims. There is no time to lose. Action has to be taken before an iron curtain
finally descends between the West and the Islamic World.
Mr. President,
The tragedy of Palestine is an open wound inflicted on the psyche of every
Muslim. It generates anger and resentment across the Islamic World. Continued
Israeli violence and erection of the illegal separation wall by them, usurping
more Palestinian land, as well as suicide attacks by misguided Palestinians, are
frustrating the prospects of peace and prolonging the agony of the Palestinian
people. While Pakistan stands for peace – recognizing the right of Israel to
exist, as also the right of the Palestinians to have their own homeland, we can
never accept the usurpation of additional Palestinian land. Israel has no right
to erect its separation wall beyond its 1967 boundaries. Pakistan calls on
Israel to withdraw the wall from all occupied Palestinian lands, taking it back
to the pre-1967 boundaries. We also call on Israel to stop the daily atrocities
against Palestinians. Pakistan also appeals to President Yasser Arafat to use
his influence to reciprocally halt the Intifada and give peace a chance. A major
responsibility rests with the Quartet, and in particular with the world’s
greatest power – the United States to secure a fair and peaceful solution of the
problem, realizing the vision of two states – Israel and Palestine – living side
by side in peace, harmony and security. The US can and must play the role of a
just broker of peace. Peace must succeed in the Middle East; failure, Mr.
President, is no more an option.
Mr. President,
It has always been my conviction that Pakistan and India can resolve all their
differences, including over Jammu and Kashmir, through a sincere dialogue. The
dangerous confrontation of 2002 and the three wars prior to that between our two
countries have demonstrated that there is no military solution to our problems.
The aspiration for peace enjoys popular support in Pakistan and, I also believe,
in India. Neither country can achieve its ambition for social and economic
progress in the absence of peace. We must achieve peace for the sake of the
impoverished people of South Asia – for their development and prosperity.
After several aborted attempts, Pakistan and India have been able to initiate
Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and a composite dialogue this year to
address all outstanding issues. Pakistan has pursued this process with complete
sincerity, giving bilateralism a final chance. We feel that the dual channels of
CBMs and the Dialogue Process must proceed in tandem. We also are firmly
committed to resolving all disputes with India peacefully including the Kashmir
dispute. This cannot be ignored. Its resolution cannot be inordinately delayed.
We desire a resolution of Kashmir which is just and acceptable to India,
Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. We also seek strategic stability with India.
I am glad to say, Mr. President, that uptill now the normalization process has
progressed well, in a cordial atmosphere. Now that the negotiations are entering
the difficult stage of grappling with solutions to previously irreconcilable
disputes, Pakistan hopes that India shows the same sincerity, flexibility and
boldness that Pakistan will demonstrate. I look forward to my meeting day after
tomorrow with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. I would like to convey to him that
this is the moment for peace – we must not allow it to slip away.
Mr. President,
Iraq has taken a serious turn, to the anguish of the entire world community. It
is imperative that together with closing the Palestine and Kashmir fronts, we
also wind down the Iraq confrontation. Pakistan stands for restoration of peace
and stability in Iraq, ensuring its unity and territorial integrity. This can
only be achieved through handing over governance authority to the people of Iraq
and allowing them full control over their natural resources. Internal law and
order and security can be best promoted by local Iraqi Police or Militia, which
needs to be built up expeditiously. At an opportune time, and, on request of
people and Government of Iraq, the Muslim World could play a role in bringing
peace and harmony to this conflict torn Nation.
Mr. President,
The forthcoming elections in Afghanistan will be an important landmark in the
country’s progress towards democracy and stability. Pakistan will do all it can
to prevent terrorists from using our territory to disrupt the Afghan election
process. The subsequent Parliamentary elections in April 2005 would also augur
well for self governance in Afghanistan. While the political channel is
progressing well and we wish President Karzai all success, the process of
building the Afghan National Army and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan needs
to be accelerated to install durable peace in Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
In our globalized world, peace and development are interdependent – now more
than ever. Despite dynamic growth in some parts of the developing world,
economic and social disparities are increasing. The rich are richer; the poor
are poorer. Over two billion people on our planet – a quarter of the world’s
population – live in abject poverty, afflicted by hunger, disease and conflict.
Islands of peace and prosperity cannot coexist for long within oceans of
instability and poverty.
A bold and innovative global strategy is required to redress the growing
inequalities. Good governance is a precondition for development. But, it is
equally essential to rectify the glaring inequities and imbalances in the
international financial and trade systems. Official Development Assistance can
and must be doubled. Innovative ways can and must be adopted to generate the
financial resources required for development. The billions transferred abroad by
corrupt leaders should be returned to the looted countries to finance poverty
alleviation, education and health. International investment flows should be
consciously directed to the poorer developing countries. It can unleash the
latent power of the poor for consumption and production. We also know by now
that trade, and not just aid, is the way to promote growth and to benefit from
globalization. However, it has to be made more equitable. It should eliminate
unfair agricultural subsidies, remove high and escalating tariffs that
discriminate against the products of the poor and offer special and differential
treatment to disadvantaged developing countries. In my view, we need more than a
level playing field; we need a field tilted in favour of the developing
countries.
Unless the world’s leaders generate the political will required to agree and
implement these measures urgently, the Millennium Development Goals, proclaimed
by the United Nations, will remain a mirage.
Mr. President,
In Pakistan, we are well on the way to transforming our country into a modern,
progressive, tolerant, democratic, Islamic state, reflecting the vision of our
founding father, the Quaid-e-Azam. Democracy has been restored in Pakistan. The
people have been empowered through a revolutionary Local Government System. Our
women have been empowered. However, like other developing countries, Pakistan
confronts several challenges. But, we are confident of success. Our governance
is good. Our national priorities are clear.
Mr. President,
Today, there is welcome resurgence of support for multilateralism. This must be
a multilateralism based on the principles of the UN Charter, a cooperative and
democratic multilateralism. It must seek just, peaceful and durable solutions to
conflicts and disputes. It must promote a programme for nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation. It must foster global development and prosperity.
All our collective aspirations can be best pursued within this World
Organization. The United Nations must be strengthened and revitalized to respond
to the challenges of Twenty-first Century.
The UN Security Council should become more effective, democratic and
representative. There is no agreement on the aspiration of a few States to
acquire permanent membership of the Security Council. The overwhelming majority
of states are against the creation of new centres of privilege. The Council
should be enlarged to ensure the representation of the mostly small and medium
states which have joined the United Nations over the last three decades. We have
to consider new ideas to craft a consensus on the enlargement of elected members
on the Security Council.
Mr. President,
Pakistan believes that a new consensus on peace, security and development, can
and should be achieved on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the United
Nations next year. The summit meeting suggested by the Secretary General for
next year must lead to a negotiated Final Document adopted by consensus. This
historic Summit will, I hope, create a new paradigm to achieve universal peace
and prosperity.
I thank you, Mr. President.