Myanmar

Allow me to begin, Mr. President, by extending to you the warmest congratulations of the delegation of the Union of Myanmar on your unanimous election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session. Heavy and onerous indeed are the duties and responsibilities that fall upon you at this particular session. The task before the President of the General Assembly in any year is by no means easy. It is even less so this year, as this session has the additional task of undertaking the preparatory work for the millennium session of next year. However, we are fully confident that your great wealth of experience and outstanding diplomatic skills will stand you in good stead in the discharge of your responsibilities and that you will bring this session to a successful conclusion. I pledge my delegation's fullest cooperation for the advancement of the work of the Assembly under your able leadership. I also wish to pay tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Opertti, for his invaluable contribution to the successful conclusion of the previous session of the General Assembly. Our tribute also goes to the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his untiring efforts in leading the world Organization so effectively through these extremely challenging and difficult years. Myanmar consistently supports the principle of the universality of membership of this world Organization. We are therefore most delighted to see in our midst three new Members this year. On behalf of the delegation of the Union of Myanmar, I should like to extend our warmest congratulations to the delegations of the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru and the Kingdom of Tonga, which have taken their rightful places in the Assembly. We live in a rapidly changing world. With the end of the cold war, the old era of the bipolar world has become a thing of the past. The world is in transition from the old to the new world order, which has not fully taken shape. At this critical juncture, the world is faced with uncertainties and unsettling situations. Sometimes, the world has even fallen victim to this turbulence and chaos. In dealing with such situations, it is our view that any solutions sought or measures taken, even with the best of intentions, should be in strict conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Furthermore, universally recognized principles governing international relations and the principle of respect for State sovereignty should be taken into account before resorting to measures of an extreme nature in connection with a particular situation. One outstanding question relating to the reform of the United Nations is the reform of the structure and working methods of the Security Council. We are encouraged to see that the General Assembly has taken a significant procedural step by adopting a resolution on the requirement of a two-thirds majority in taking decisions and adopting resolutions on this question. With regard to the core issue of enlargement of the Security Council, there are various proposals on the table regarding the possible size of the Council. As a member State of the Non-Aligned Movement, our preference is for enlargement of the Security Council up to 26 members. We favour the expansion of the membership of the Council in both categories, permanent and non-permanent. In order to overcome the current impasse on the question of permanent seats in the Security Council, a compromise formula, acceptable to all parties, should be worked out through enhanced consultations and discussions among the Member States. We are of the view that in the event other options fail to command enough support, the idea of rotating permanent seats should also be considered as one of the options in the permanent membership category. In the coming year, we are going to convene a landmark Assembly, the Millennium Assembly, and the millennium summit. It is crucially important that the Millennium Assembly and summit should not be mere ceremonial events, but should come up with concrete ideas and results. As it is clearly evident that the greatest challenge facing mankind well into the next millennium will be economic development and poverty eradication for the vast majority of people in the world, it is our view that particular attention should be given to these issues. Globalization can cut both positively and negatively. It can bring us new opportunities as well as additional problems. It is true that the process of globalization can facilitate economic development and enhance the living standards of people. But at the same time, it can make smaller and less developed States vulnerable to the undesirable negative effects of this process. One such problem caused by the process of globalization, is transnational crime, including illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, money-laundering, trafficking in persons, arms- smuggling, piracy and terrorism. These crimes pose serious threats to the peace and stability of mankind at both national and regional levels. The nature of this problem is such that it requires national, regional and global responses. 36 I am pleased to inform the Assembly that in a bid to strengthen cooperation in the regional grouping, Myanmar hosted the second Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial meeting on transnational crime in June this year. The meeting was a success, and it constituted a significant step in advancing regional cooperation in combating this menace in the South-East Asian region. Let me also address the fight against narcotic drugs in Myanmar. My Government is greatly concerned about the drug menace, and the fight against narcotic drugs is regarded as a national task and the top priority. A master plan had been adopted to totally eradicate poppy cultivation within 15 years, in cooperation with ethnic leaders who signed peace agreements with the Government. In accord with the master plan, many areas have been declared opium-free zones and farmers are now turning to alternative crops. Law enforcement has been stepped up in the border areas, resulting in increased seizures of narcotic drugs. While we are quite successful in the suppression of opium and heroin production, though only scanty international assistance has been received, another tide of danger has emerged in the form of new synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine. The new drugs are produced around our porous borders with precursor chemicals such as ephedrine, unavailable locally, and drug-making equipment illegally smuggled in from neighbouring countries. We are redirecting our efforts to deal with the new problem with the cooperation of the countries concerned. Allow me to take this opportunity to apprise the Assembly briefly of the recent developments and trends taking place in my country. My Government is against neither democracy nor human rights. As a matter of fact, we are taking necessary steps towards the establishment of a democratic nation. We have a vision of establishing a modern, peaceful and developed democratic State. In order to bring this vision into reality, we are reconsolidating national unity as the number one priority. Necessary foundations are being laid for the emergence of a nation where a disciplined and multi-party democratic system fully functions and justice, liberty and equality prevail. We fully subscribe to the human rights norms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Here, I wish to underscore that the Government does not condone any violations of human rights, and the type of democracy we envision will guarantee the protection and promotion of human rights, particularly the right to the satisfaction of basic human needs such as clothing, food and shelter. If there is an imperative need for improvement in areas of human rights, we are willing and ready to receive sensible suggestions and take whatever action we possibly can. For instance, in the middle of this year, we received a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and made detailed arrangements for them to visit the prisons in Myanmar, as a confidence-building measure and to enable them to interview the inmates in accordance with ICRC standard procedures. As a result of the full cooperation we extended to the ICRC delegation, those visits were successful and productive, enabling both sides to build mutual trust and goodwill. I consider it pertinent to state here that the ICRC delegation expressed their satisfaction with the overall situation regarding the relationship between the prison authorities and the inmates. Also, in August this year, Mr. Chris Sidoti, the Australian Human Rights Commissioner, visited Myanmar and held discussions with the authorities concerned, including myself, on the possibility of establishing a national human rights institution in Myanmar exchanges of views on cooperation between the two countries on human rights matters. As a result of this visit, we were able to identify certain areas of cooperation between the two countries. In conformity with our consistent policy of establishing friendly and amicable relations with all countries, we accepted the proposal for the visit of the Troika mission from the European Union to Myanmar in July this year. The mission was a fact-finding one, and both sides expressed their satisfaction with the result. It is our hope that this mission will further strengthen our relations with the European Union and pave the way for enhancing our contacts and dialogue with it towards a more meaningful and substantive level in the future. Similarly, we would also like to seek better relations with the United States of America. Furthermore, I would like to confirm our willingness to receive Mr. Alvaro de Soto, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary- General for Myanmar, to visit my country in the near future. Myanmar is a multi-ethnic society where many national races with different and diverse cultural and social backgrounds reside together. In addition, primarily 37 because of the “divide and rule” policy under colonial rule, unity between the national races broke down and, as a result, armed insurrections broke out all over the country. For these reasons, the present Government came to the conclusion that racial harmony was imperative and that, in its absence, various issues would continue to hamper national development endeavours. This rationale led the Government to make peace overtures to the armed groups and establish peace with them. In order to restore trust and confidence between the national races, the Government has even allowed the ethnic armed groups to hold on to their weapons until a democratic government is formally established under the new constitution we are drafting now. This is a reflection of our trust in our national brethren. At the same time, the Government has launched an ambitious plan for the development of border areas and the national races there. Despite its meagre financial resources, the Government has spent over 15 billion kyats on the plan. At present, the national races are actively working together with the Government in their regional development efforts. This conscious and willing involvement in national development tasks as equal partners has nurtured the Union spirit and sense of togetherness. With 17 armed groups in the legal fold, peace is holding the entire length and breadth of the country. As far as the question of national unity is concerned, this is the first ever concrete result achieved, and it is unprecedented in the number of armed groups involved and the extent of peace established. This is a result we achieved through sincere, genuine and open dialogue between the Government and ethnic armed groups where we first built confidence and then convinced each other of our respective objectives. The Government is open to such a dialogue with any remaining groups, including the Karen National Union (KNU), where we could build confidence and identify common ground in the sole interest of the country and its people. In this regard, I wish to reiterate that the Government's offer of peace to the KNU still stands. As a matter of fact, the same dialogue is going on in the national convention process, where representatives of national races, political parties and delegates representing all strata of life are actively involved in drafting a new constitution to lay a solid foundation for a new democratic political system. The national convention has been a successful process whereby we have agreed on the basic principles that will govern the future life of the country and will allow self-administered zones for certain national groups. At this juncture, we are in the painful and arduous process of building a consensus on power-sharing, which is an extremely sensitive issue for all parties concerned. In view of the delicate nature of this sensitive question, it is vitally important for us to proceed systematically, and with the greatest caution possible, to safeguard the interests of all the national races and not to repeat the shortcomings of the previous two constitutions. We firmly believe that there is no better alternative to the current national convention process if we genuinely wish to transform the country into a peaceful, modern, developed, and democratic State. It is therefore essential for us to complete the national convention process. In this connection, it is our ardent hope that the international community will be supportive of our sincere efforts and appreciative of the positive achievements we have made thus far for the development of the country. Myanmar is very often portrayed from outside as if vast violations of human rights are taking place, forced labour is rampant, a free flow of narcotics exists and economic and social conditions are in chaos. These portrayals are in contradiction to the true situation. Let me cite here a widely known teaching of the Lord Buddha called “Kalama Sutta”. The Sutta says: “Oh, Ye Kalamas, do not be led by whatever you are told; do not be led by whatever has been handed down from the past generation; do not be led by hearsay or common opinion; do not be led by whatever the scriptures say; do not be led by mere logic; do not be led by mere deduction or inference; do not be led by considering outward appearance; do not be led by theory reflected as approval; do not be led by whatever a believable one says; and do not be led by what your teacher tells you is so”. In short, Lord Buddha taught us to accept and practice only when we ourselves know which is wrong and which is right. Everyone who visits Myanmar can see the greenness of the country, peace and tranquillity prevailing throughout the nation, people leading their normal daily lives with happiness and pleasure and building their nation with zest and zeal. The people have full knowledge that they are on the right path to peace and prosperity. I would like to invite all of you to come and see for yourselves. Seeing is believing! 38 Our nation is still in the process of building; solid foundations are being laid, and infrastructure is being improved throughout the country. The Government and the people fully understand where we were, where we are now and in which direction we are moving. We think of ourselves as builders, carpenters and plumbers building a house not to enjoy ourselves, but for all the people, who are its rightful owners. When the building is finished, furnished, furbished and fine-touched, it will be handed over to them. The people will decide who will manage the house. There are some Myanmar youths who abandoned our land and took refuge elsewhere. I should like to take this opportunity to send them a message from this podium that they will be welcomed with open arms if they return home, and I would like to invite them to join us in building the nation. Our future is in our hands. If we work together, we will reach our goal sooner rather than later. Religious harmony and freedom are our shared tradition. Our previous two Constitutions provided for safeguards against religious discrimination and religious intolerance. Similarly, the fundamental principles we have agreed on in the national convention process guarantee religious indiscrimination and religious tolerance. Although Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country, with nearly 90 per cent of the population professing Buddhism, the Government attaches great importance to harmonious relations among the major religions existing in the country. Accordingly, the Government has taken all necessary steps to encourage the prevailing harmony among the religions through continuous contacts with the respective religious leaderships and the provision of necessary assistance in both financial and material terms to enable them to promote their faiths effectively. I want to state here that there is freedom of religion for all faiths in the country. It is also worth recalling here that a few years ago Madam Ogata, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, remarked in her capacity as Independent Expert of the Commission on Human Rights, that Myanmar was a model society as far as religious tolerance was concerned. Though these remarks were made some time ago, I wish to stress that they remain valid and true to this day, and that the Government is determined to safeguard to the best of its ability all the religions of the country against intolerance, and to help them in all possible ways to coexist harmoniously with each other. I cannot conclude without mentioning what my country is achieving on the economic front. Despite some slowdown in economic growth due to the Asian financial crisis, Myanmar has enjoyed considerable economic growth in recent years. The emphasis of the Government is to promote private sector development and privatization. At the same time, the Government is focusing its endeavours on the development of the infrastructure as a precondition for sustained development. Moreover, the Government is carrying out an extensive programme of land reclamation in wet and virgin lands by granting large land holdings to the private companies. The private sector has been able to reclaim and develop 1.1 million acres of fallow land and wetlands for agricultural production, which will not only help domestic food supply but will also contribute to regional food security. We have a vision for the new millennium, a vision of building a peaceful, modern, developed and democratic society. We will endeavour to realize our vision with whatever resources we have at our disposal. The realization of this goal could be accelerated if we receive the support of the international community. We are optimistic that we will be able to achieve our vision, and that the international community will demonstrate understanding and appreciation of our sincere efforts to uplift the economic and social well-being of the people of Myanmar.