2001 SHOULD BE YEAR OF DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS; PRESIDENT OF IRAN TELLS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Press Release
GA/9446
2001 SHOULD BE YEAR OF DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS; PRESIDENT OF IRAN TELLS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
19980921 Assembly Continues General Debate; Mexico's Foreign Minister Urges Economic Crisis Warning System"Let us hope that in the coming century the essence of political power be compassion and justice, externally manifested in dialogue between civilizations", the President of Iran, Seyed Mohammad Khatami, told the General Assembly this afternoon as it continued its general debate.
As a first step towards that goal, the President of Iran proposed that the United Nations designate the year 2001 as the "year of dialogue among civilizations", with the hope that such dialogue would replace hostility and confrontation with discourse and understanding.
Addressing the situation in Afghanistan, he said the Afghan people had the inalienable right to determine their own destiny, and to have a broad- based government representing all ethnic groups, communities and tendencies in the country. That was the only way to restore tranquillity.
Keizo Obuchi, Prime Minister of Japan, said problems relating to economic and social development were basic causes of conflict, and required a comprehensive approach to be addressed effectively. His country had advocated the new development strategy, adopted in 1996 by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which treated development as a common issue, making no distinction between donor countries and recipient countries. The second Tokyo International Conference on African Development, to be held in Japan next October, would follow that strategy when drawing up an agenda for action to support African development. Japan was supporting stable development in Asia through financial contributions and efforts to stabilize its own economy.
Ali Alatas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, said he feared that the awesome force of globalization was being squandered. Instead of serving to unify humankind against the persistent, systematic problems of the times, it was being used to press the advantage of the strong over the weak.
General Assembly Plenary - 1a - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
It was a tragedy that the vast capacity of the human race to alter the planet had been limited by a parochial vision, and that large and complex actions were motivated by narrow self-interests.
Rosario Green, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico, said Latin America had endeavoured to maintain its economic strength in the midst of the current global financial crisis. Those nations were committed to responsibly and effectively managing the political and economic mechanisms which guaranteed their stability. Concerted action by all countries and United Nations organs was necessary, including the establishment of an early alert system to avoid the harmful effects of such a crisis.
Knut Vollebaek, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, said as official development assistance (ODA) continued to shrink, a new partnership was needed, based on result-oriented policies in developing countries. Also, there must be commitment on the part of the developed countries to reach the agreed ODA target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP). Norway, which had been well above that target for decades, sought to counter the growing donor fatigue and intended to further increase its ODA.
The President of Latvia also addressed the Assembly. Other statements this afternoon were made by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea; and the Foreign Ministers of Argentina, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire and Yemen.
Representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and Argentina also spoke in exercise of the right of reply.
The Assembly will continue its general debate at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
(age 2 follows)
Assembly Work Programme
The General Assembly met this afternoon to continue its general debate.
Statements in General Debate
GUNTIS ULMANIS, President of Latvia, said that, at the time of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Latvia was under Soviet occupation. In the seven years since Latvia had become a Member of the United Nations, it had benefited from the moral and political support of the Organization. The restoration of independence in Latvia had been helped by two General Assembly resolutions and the good offices of the Secretary-General. He was pleased to announce that, less than a month ago, the last military installation of the Russian Federation in Latvia had been closed. That event illustrated that international institutions could constructively assist in the fulfilment of bilateral agreements.
Despite the complications of an historical situation in which Latvians almost became a minority in their own country, he said the Government was resolutely dealing with the issue and elaborating a programme for the integration of society. When implemented, the programme would permit all residents of Latvia to participate to an even greater extent in public and civic life. He noted that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in particular, had helped the country resolve sensitive and important issues of integration.
He pointed out that Latvia's National Human Rights Office, which had been established with the help of the United Nations and in active operation for several years, was the first institution of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. In support of the reform package proposed by the Secretary-General, Latvia would establish a "UN house" by the end of the year as a single site for five United Nations system institutions.
SEYED MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, President of Iran, said despite the creation of the United Nations, true peace based on justice still remained a scarcity. Particularly desperate was the situation of the countries in the underdeveloped world, where so many still suffered from famine, illiteracy and disease and where some remained at the mercy of rulers who did not even take the trouble of pretending to respect democratic standards. Oppressive governments, by perpetuating intimidation and terror in their societies, promoted a culture of violence which inadvertently led their opponents to resort to the same. Powers that bred and nurtured such regimes could, therefore, not escape blame.
He said the fantasy of a unipolar world ruled by a single super-Power was an illusion. He was confident that powerful nations, such as the American people, would not accept their good name, potential and national prestige to be exploited for the advancement of a dream of a unipolar world by politicians motivated by the short-sighted, material and factional interests of a few.
General Assembly Plenary - 3 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
Iran had endured eight years of war, pressure and sanctions. It had fallen victim to terrorism -- that ominous and sinister phenomenon of the twentieth century. Today, Iran drew on its past to contemplate a better tomorrow, while defying reactionary tendencies. Backed by principles and ideals rooted in its religious, national, historical and revolutionary heritage, Iran was marching -- be it through trial or error -- towards a promising future.
It was hoped that, in the coming century, the essence of political power would be compassion and justice, externally manifested in dialogue between civilizations, he said. He proposed the United Nations, as a first step, designate the year 2001 as the "year of dialogue among civilizations", with the earnest hope that, through such dialogue, the realization of universal justice and liberty could be initiated. If humanity, at the threshold of the new millennium, devoted all efforts to institutionalizing dialogue, and replacing hostility and confrontation with discourse and understanding, it would leave an invaluable legacy for the benefit of future generations.
Islamic countries, representing 1.7 billion peoples, should acquire a permanent seat in the Security Council, with the same privileges as those enjoyed by current permanent members. The time had come to reject the discriminatory veto privilege and, in so doing, take another step towards the recognition of the fair and equal rights of States.
Peace and security in the Middle East could only be established through recognition of the rights of all Palestinians to exercise sovereignty over their ancestral homeland, he continued. Palestine was the home of all Palestinians -- Muslims, Christian and Jews -- and not the laboratory for the violent whims of Zionists.
In Afghanistan, he said the Afghan people had the inalienable right to determine their own destiny and to have a broad-based government representing all ethnic groups, communities and tendencies in that country. That was the only way to restore tranquillity. In a world swirling in the orbit of violence and oppression, serious combat against terrorism would not advance beyond the realm of words and slogans. To eradicate that menace, there was a need to engage in serious and transparent international cooperation, while redoubling efforts to attain the objective of global justice.
The world also needed to be liberated from the nightmare of nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction, he said. Security, development and prosperity in the third world required the promotion of cooperation and the utilization of proven arrangements and mechanisms for confidence-building. He invited his neighbours in the Persian Gulf, who had witnessed two destructive wars in one decade, to establish a security and cooperation system in the area.
Efforts at the global level geared at the promotion and strengthening of respect for women and their rights required there be a critical reassessment
General Assembly Plenary - 4 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
of the traditional and inappropriate views about women, he said. Also, comprehensive and sustainable development was only possible through the active participation of both men and women in social life.
ROSARIO GREEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico, said the existence of nuclear arsenals was one of the biggest threats to the international community. Nations must set aside their concerns and move forward on the path of disarmament; the path of eliminating all nuclear weapons. Mexico condemned all nuclear testing, which only served to spread fear and create a climate conducive to a nuclear arms race. Dialogue was the irreplaceable means of achieving a solution to the issue. Mexico had signed last June a ministerial declaration which sought to define a new agenda for eliminating all instruments of mass destruction.
Mexico welcomed the growing support for international treaties intended to halt the spread of landmines and biological weapons, she said. Those countries who had not already done so should ratify the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.
Reform of the United Nations, as presented by the Secretary-General, had acquired a special significance, she said. The Organization needed to rethink its strategies for dealing with old, as well as new, problems.
The Security Council needed to become more transparent and to correct its present deficiencies, she said. The issue was not one of numbers, but rather a lack of balance in representation. Mexico was against an increase in permanent members of the Security Council. A structural reform of the Council would not guarantee its effectiveness. Therefore, a reform of its working methods was also needed. Mexico would continue to actively participate in the working group on the Council's expansion.
Concerns about world security had been compounded by the uncertainty of the current financial crisis, she said. The Bretton Woods institutions had shown the inability to respond to today's challenges. Latin America had endeavoured to maintain its economic strength in the midst of the current crisis. Nations of the region were committed to managing, in a responsible and effective way, the political and economic mechanisms which guaranteed their stability. Concerted action was needed by all countries and United Nations organs. The Rio Group of Latin American Nations, during its September meeting in Panama, urged countries to adopt measures to manage the crisis and restore the stability and growth of the world economy. Overcoming the present situation was the priority.
Just as the international community had seen the wisdom of crisis prevention, it now had to take the same course to prevent fissures in the
General Assembly Plenary - 5 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
world economy, she continued. An early alert system was needed to avoid the harmful effects of such a crisis. All nations had to work resolutely, share experiences and make proposals on how to work towards global financial security.
In the face of political and economic uncertainty, the role of the United Nations had acquired a new relevance, she continued. Recent changes on the international scene presented the Organization with new challenges for which there were no easy answers. Cooperative action must be taken to make use of positive trends towards peace and security, stability, development and respect for human rights.
BILL SKATE, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, told the Assembly that the realities of life in a rapidly shrinking world meant that a partnership must be viewed and turned into a much broader global practical perspective in managing and, where possible, directing change. The point was brought home by a series of natural disasters which had affected his country over the past year, including drought, volcanic eruptions, floods and landslides. He mentioned the severe food shortages following the El Niño drought and the devastation of the tsunami, which destroyed villages and killed more than 2,100 people, mainly women and children. The prompt and generous response to the crises by friends and neighbours in many countries showed that they were truly partners in dealing with effects of such change.
Like other developing countries, Papua New Guinea faced the challenge of providing its people with opportunities to improve both the material standard of living and the quality of life. His Government had to address multiple challenges while dealing with natural disasters and carrying out a comprehensive programme of structural adjustment. He continued by saying that his country, a small open economy, was suffering from the economic crisis experienced by its major trading partners. His Government had been forced to undertake significant reform programmes to protect its economy and people. In order to realize and sustain its current reform programmes, Papua New Guinea had to secure external financial support. He said that some international financial institutions had been very positive in their discussions, while others appeared to be dragging their feet. Despite the negative effects of the current global crisis, his country was achieving a stable economy, stabilizing the currency and attracting investment.
His Government's foreign policy, he stated, would be one of "Partnership in the Asia-Pacific". This would serve as a building block for the global partnership on which his country's future depended. In the area of peacemaking, he said that resolving the nine-year-old Bougainville conflict had been his priority. He was pleased to report that the Security Council had approved a small observer mission which was in Bougainville operating beside the men of the Regional Truce Monitoring Group. Although the peace process in Bougainville remained fragile, he was confident that, with the support of his countrymen and friends in the international community, it would continue to gain strength.
General Assembly Plenary - 6 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
The process of decolonization would not be complete until the remaining 17 dependent Territories had exercised their inalienable rights to self- determination. The recently concluded South Pacific Forum, held in Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia, had confirmed its support for that right. In regard to the indigenous Kanaks of New Caledonia, he believed the recent Noumea Accord would provide a sound basis for the future fulfilment of all legitimate political aspirations.
His Government was actively engaged in bringing its national laws, policies and practices in line with the important declarations and plans of action of the United Nations. Priority was being given to advancing the rights of women and the elimination of child abuse. His Government also supported calls for, among other things, a new Security Council in the new millennium; commemoration of the Year of the Oceans; ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming; renewal of the decade for natural disaster reduction and preparedness; the Barbados programme for sustainable development in small island States; and the achievement of a stable, peaceful and environmentally safe world by support of the objectives of the nuclear non-proliferation and comprehensive test-ban Treaties.
KEIZO OBUCHI, Prime Minister of Japan, said the question faced by the international community today was how to build a framework for a new international order. To create a new system to cope, the international community must promote peace and development, as well as United Nations reform. The possibility of worldwide conflict had decreased, but ethnic and religious confrontations were increasing. The United Nations must focus on preventing such conflicts, not just on solving them. Social instability lay at the root of those conflicts, meaning development issues were very important, as were environmental destruction and terrorism. Japan was determined to play a leading role in addressing those problems.
The nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan in May represented a formidable challenge to the nuclear non-proliferation regime, he said. While the existing regime was not perfect, there was no feasible alternative. No country should be allowed to set back the strengthening of non-proliferation. All nations should accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) without conditions, and to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Strict export controls should be implemented on equipment, materials and technologies that relate to nuclear weapons and missiles, he said. Nuclear disarmament by nuclear-weapon States was more important than ever to strengthen efforts towards non-proliferation. An early conclusion of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty was necessary. Japan planned to take initiatives in the General Assembly to promote those objectives.
Problems relating to economic and social development were basic causes of conflict, he said. A comprehensive approach was required if they were to be
General Assembly Plenary - 7 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
effectively addressed. Japan advocated the new development strategy, adopted in 1996 by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which treated development as a common issue and, therefore, made no distinction between donor countries and recipient countries. The second Tokyo International Conference on African Development, to be held in Japan next October, would follow that strategy when drawing up an agenda for action to support African development. Japan supported stable development in Asia, through financial contributions and efforts to stabilize its own economy.
In the area of peace and development, there was an urgent need to reform the United Nations and strengthen its functions, he said. The United Nations must be assured a sound financial basis, which required each Member State to pay its assessed contributions. Urgent reform of the Security Council was warranted. Japan called on all countries to make bold political decisions which would lead to the crafting of a framework for reform during the current Assembly session. Japan would take leadership role in addressing issues of peace, development and reform in a sincere, steady, courageous and prompt manner.
GUIDO DI TELLA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina, referring to the current financial crisis, said it was negative to succumb to the temptation of imposing restrictions on international trade in order to thwart the spread of economic crisis, or to resort to the hampering or conditioning of the flow of financial resources in order to moderate their volatility. In Latin America, countries such as Argentina had made sustained efforts to consolidate the financial situation, contain the budget deficit and provide assurances to foreign investors. He added that financial institutions and countries with the capacity to provide assistance should assume a commitment to countries in the eye of the financial storm.
The recent nuclear tests in southern Asia had constituted a step backward with regard to regional and global security and had served to delay the economic development and well-being of the population, he said. Argentina, together with other countries who had renounced the military use of nuclear technology, had urged the States of the region to halt the conduct of tests and adhere to the international instruments in force. Stating that Argentina was the first country, which, having mastered the nuclear fuel cycle, had chosen to limit its own use of the technology, he offered to share its experience in peaceful nuclear cooperation.
Referring to the Malvinas Islands as an important unresolved issue, he reiterated "the legitimate and well-founded rights of Argentina" in that dispute. He urged the United Kingdom to heed the call of the international community and observe United Nations resolutions which called upon both Governments to resume negotiations on all aspects of the question. "The end of the cold war showed us that far more complicated problems have been
General Assembly Plenary - 8 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
resolved through frank, open dialogue and the will of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. I see no reason why the question of the Malvinas should be an exception", he said. Reiterating Argentina's desire to pursue a frank dialogue without preconditions, he expressed the hope that the British Government understood the full sense of the offer.
On reform of the Security Council, he said that reform must be legally valid, which meant not forcing interpretations of the Charter with regard to majorities. Any increase of the permanent members should allow for a rotation open to all States of the respective regions. The crisis of the Organization was fundamentally one of participation. Many small and medium-sized countries felt excluded.
ALI ALATAS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, said that instead of serving to unify humankind in a decisive assault against the persistent, systematic problems of the times, globalization was being used to press the advantage of the strong over the weak, thereby widening the gap between the developed and the developing world. Therein lay the tragedy of the human race: that its vast capacity to alter the planet in which it lived had been matched to a parochial vision. Large and complex actions were motivated by narrow self-interest. In the narrowness of that perspective, "we inflict great harm on one another", he said.
The United Nations, as the central mechanism and catalyst for multilateral cooperation, must be enabled to play its mandated role in the achievement and maintenance of peace, security and development, he said. It was, therefore, of the greatest importance that it be provided with the resources with which to carry out its work, instead of being strapped for funds as it was now. It was also essential that the ongoing reform process be intensified, particularly with regard to the Security Council.
He said if the cause of disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, had not made substantive progress in recent years, it was largely because there were States that believed they had much to gain by their exclusive possession of nuclear arms. The unjustifiable privileges conferred on the nuclear-weapon States had given rise to a regime of discrimination and hypocrisy, as well as a situation where non-nuclear countries, wishing to enjoy the same privileges, sought to become nuclear States themselves. Thus, the NPT had not fully met its objectives, and the imbalances and the discrimination inherent in it had persisted.
He noted that the world economy was teetering on the brink of a recession, if not already experiencing one. Economic output had slowed for the developed and developing countries alike and growth in world trade had also decelerated. In addition, while official forecasts indicated a slowdown in the growth of world output to 2.5 per cent, any such forecast might still be too optimistic.
General Assembly Plenary - 9 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
Only a little more than a year ago, the world economy had been on a significant growth path, and the outlook had been generally bright. Today, many of the dynamic economies of that period were crippled, and one third of the world was grappling with serious economic slowdown and the frightening possibility of depression. In affected countries, including his own, economic turmoil had reached a devastating level. The experience of the South-East Asian countries in that financial turmoil had shown that even the most dynamic countries were vulnerable. The lesson of that debacle was that the market was driven as much by sentiments as it was by fundamentals.
The adverse effects of globalization had also greatly eroded multilateral cooperation for development, he said. The current troubles were less the result of the vagaries of globalization than the consequence of an economic doctrine that had dominated international economic relations for many years. That doctrine represented unbridled liberalization as a panacea for all economies. In their desire to integrate themselves with the global economy, many developing countries had audaciously opened up their economies -- only to realize that the social and political costs of doing so outstripped the benefits. Moreover, that inordinate emphasis on unfettered markets had led to the neglect of development issues.
In the face of such stark global realities, international solidarity and cooperation must be intensified, he said. The international community should strengthen its management role in the world economy. That role should include the establishment of surveillance and regulatory frameworks on short-term capital flows and trade-in currencies, without constraining the liberalization of economies. The strengthened international management role was essential if "we seek to avert future crises, alleviate the adverse impact of globalization and maximize its benefits", he added.
ROBERTO ROJAS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, said perhaps the most important legacy of the United Nations was the certitude that human rights were a matter of universal concern. That conviction had prompted the conceptual, juridical and political development of human rights. However, intolerance and violence persisted in the world as did discrimination based on ethnic, religious, cultural, national, ideological or gender considerations. Those serious problems must be faced from an ethical standpoint, using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the basic code for conduct of both States and individuals.
The legal force of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was not being discussed today, he continued. For a long time, doubts and objections had been raised about establishing a mechanism to enforce it. But, the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal and the adoption of its Statute condemning the most heinous crimes against humanity were very important events. He welcomed the inclusion of violations of the basic rules of the international humanitarian law as crimes under the Court Statute.
General Assembly Plenary - 10 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
Costa Rica was celebrating, as well, the fiftieth anniversary of the abolition of its army, he said. His country supported general disarmament and the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction, and condemned nuclear testing. Likewise, he repudiated terrorism saying that there could be no justification for attacks against innocent people. The international community must make special efforts to prevent and to eliminate international terrorism.
Central American countries were negotiating aspects of the creation of a free-trade area in the Americas, he said. The creation of economic unions or commercial blocks that discriminate against third countries must be avoided. New conditionalities in the commercial policy of the industrialized economies and mechanisms to manage trade were clearly an impediment to the ideal of free trade. Equally, capitalism without the rule of law and ethics usually caused scourges, such as the penetration of drug trafficking and the growth of organized crime and corruption.
KNUT VOLLEBAEK, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, welcomed the fact that human rights were being given increased priority in the work of the United Nations. Human rights was basically about human dignity -- about protecting the individual against oppression and exploitation, poverty and injustice, marginalization and degradation. The struggle for civil and political rights, and for social, economic and cultural rights, must be one and the same struggle.
The realization of a humane world was a moral imperative and required new approaches and new tools, he said. A good example was the Ottawa Convention to ban the production, transfer and use of anti-personnel landmines, which had been negotiated in Oslo. In less than two years, the Ottawa process had produced a binding international legal instrument. Norway had already made a commitment of $120 million over a five-year period to mine action programmes, including assistance to mine victims, and called on other governments to join that endeavour.
Norway had also committed considerable resources to immediate action to assist populations in war-torn societies, he said. He supported demobilization and arms collection programmes, and proposed the establishment of a trust fund to combat the widespread proliferation and illegal use of small arms, in particular, through the collection and destruction of such weapons at the end of armed conflicts. Norway would pledge 15 million Norwegian krone (about $2 million) to the establishment of such a trust fund, and called on other countries to follow suit.
The world economic crisis clearly illustrated that there was one single global economy, he said. There was no alternative to multilateral cooperation efforts in order to maximize the positive efforts of globalization, while minimizing its negative aspects. As official development was shrinking, a new partnership was needed, based on result-oriented policies in developing
General Assembly Plenary - 11 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
countries and a commitment on the part of the developed countries to reach the agreed United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) for development purposes. Norway, which had been well above that target for decades, sought to counter the growing donor fatigue, and intended to further increase its ODA.
AMARA ESSY, Minister of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Côte d'Ivoire, said during the past year the world had entered a phase of difficulty and uncertainty it had not faced in decades. The situation in South-East Asia had caught up with the rest of the world and shown the interdependency of States in the process of globalization. No country was exempt -- the struggle against poverty was a fight for the entire international community. Millions had been cast into poverty. The crisis should convince the world of the interdependency of the destinies of all countries.
What was needed by all countries was progress towards development, he said. Establishment of an ODA level of 0.7 per cent was desired, but ODA levels had been decreasing over the past decades. The notion of solidarity was falling on deaf ears within the international forums, and various decisions adopted during major United Nations conferences had not been applied to the desired extent due to lack of finances, he added.
Conflicts had social and economic roots and those needed to be taken into account, he continued. The Economic and Social Council could provide information to the Security Council if necessary; however, that had not taken place. Solidarity, based on the principles of fraternity, and the dignity and equality of all peoples, needed to be the cardinal value of the new world order. During the past decade, most countries had witnessed spectacular events and were now receptive to pluralism. People everywhere wished to have a say in national matters, and governments were bending to the demands of people in the course of democratization. The broad support brought by the international community to the Ottawa Convention would allow the hope for success in efforts to eliminate the scourge of barbaric weapons.
Significant on the ethical level was the adoption of the Statute of the International Criminal Court on the creation of the Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, he said. The first judgements rendered in September had been significant on two levels: first, the atrocious crime of genocide would no longer go unpunished; second, it had been recognized that sexual crimes committed on a large and systematic scale during periods of conflict constituted crimes of genocide.
Another concern was putting an end to terrorism, he said. It was no longer enough to condemn the sources of that evil. The fight against terrorism was the fight against injustice. Côte d'Ivoire reasserted its commitment to working in cooperation with all States to eradicate terrorism. The time had come for the international community to convene an international conference on the issue.
General Assembly Plenary - 12 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
Côte d'Ivoire was committed to economic renewal, he said. On an institutional level, it was witnessing decentralization. Inflation had been controlled, and the rate of investment had grown. In the current context of globalization, industrialization was a necessity for economic progress in Africa. Stating that Africa would continue to rely on its friends, he thanked all donors who had forgiven debts owed to them by African countries.
ABDULKADER ABDULRAHMAN BAJAMMAL, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yemen, said his country had made consistent efforts to strengthen democratic practices, political pluralism, freedom of the press and human rights. With the unification of North and South Yemen, the Republic of Yemen inherited two different political and economic systems. That had impelled it to initiate radical political and institutional reforms intended to bring about social and political integration and to deeply entrench democratic practices.
Economic reform must be accompanied by a social safety net to ensure social and economic equilibrium and alleviate the impact of change on the poor and the unemployed, he said. International financial institutions must recognize their responsibilities in that context and intensify their social and environmental development programmes. In order to bridge the structural gap, country assistance and investment had to increase.
Noting the unstable nature of peace in his region, he said there was concern that the situation could explode, he said. The construction of new Israeli settlements in occupied Arab territories continued as did the changing of the historical heritage of East Jerusalem, "including the obliteration of the Arab identity". He appealed to the international community to oblige Israel to honour its international obligations in order to prevent the region from being plunged back into conflict, tension and bloodshed.
The effects and repercussions of terrorism were not confined to any one country, people or ideology, he said. The international community must establish a political, intellectual and institutional structure, both at international and regional levels, to combat and eradicate terrorism and its negative consequences. Yemen absolutely rejected all forms of terrorism. Genuine cooperation was needed to combat the problem.
Due to Yemen's proximity to the Horn of Africa, he said that the country was concerned about the situation in Somalia and urged the international community to assist the warring factions resolve their differences. Yemen had received scores of refugees fleeing Somalia and other countries suffering national conflicts or difficult economic circumstances. The resources of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were inadequate to deal with the needs of the refugees, and it was important for the international community to assist Yemen with its humanitarian duties.
General Assembly Plenary - 13 - Press Release GA/9446 8th Meeting (PM) 21 September 1998
Rights of Reply
KIM CHANG GUK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), speaking in exercise of the right of reply to remarks made by Keizo Obuchi, the Prime Minister of Japan, said the launch earlier this year of a satellite had been a matter entirely within the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Any country could launch a satellite, and his country was under no obligation to have informed Japan of its intentions.
JEREMY GREENSTOCK (United Kingdom), speaking in exercise of the right of reply to remarks made by Guido di Tella, Foreign Minister of Argentina, said he had no doubts about Britain's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and other British dependencies in the South Atlantic. The democratically elected representatives of the Falkland Islanders had clearly expressed the Islander's view that they did not want to be part of Argentina. Despite differences on this subject, the United Kingdom maintained a constructive dialogue with Argentina on matters such as hydrocarbons development and fisheries.
ANA MARIA RAMIREZ (Argentina), speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said her delegation endorsed the concepts elaborated by its Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Guido di Tella, in the general debate this afternoon.
* *** *