It gives me
great pleasure to congratulate Ambassador Ganev of Bulgaria on his election to
the presidency of the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly. We are
confident that he will conduct the work of the session wisely and effectively
and we take satisfaction in the bonds of friendship and mutual cooperation
between our two countries.
I should like on this occasion to pay tribute to Ambassador Samir Shihabi
for the sagacious leadership and courage he demonstrated in presiding over the
forty-sixth session of the General Assembly. He indeed deserves our deep
thanks and appreciation.
I have pleasure also in extending warm greetings to the
Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. We commend the resolve and
ability he has shown in steering the work of the Organization over the short
period of time that has passed since the start of his mandate and his declared
intent to make the United Nations more compatible with the political changes
that have taken place in international politics and the resultant increasing
demands upon the Organization in the areas of peace-keeping, peacemaking,
development and humanitarian assistance.
I am duty bound to extend our esteem and appreciation also to
Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, the former Secretary-General of the United
Nations, for his able leadership of the Organization's work for 10 years and
for the sincere concern he showed over the suffering of Lebanon during its
protracted agony.
Lebanon, a founding Member of the United Nations, welcomes the new Member
States and considers their membership to be an enhancement of the
Organization's universality, credibility and significance.
Over the past few years, the world witnessed a series of historic events
that have led to a fundamental transformation in international relations.
With the collapse of ideological barriers, the cold war has come to an end and
thus dialogue, cooperation and realism have taken the place of confrontation,
alliances and mutual mistrust. New States have emerged, many political
systems have changed, and some States have opted for more open economic
policies.
Throughout the world, all of this has generated a feeling of movement and
given rise to expectations and optimism. These changes and new realities have
had a direct impact on the status of the United Nations and its role in
dealing with regional and international problems as the atmosphere of dentente
has created more and better opportunities for the Security Council to deal
more effectively with world problems and to adopt resolutions and implement
them. The increased need for the United Nations system and its mechanisms has
necessitated the structural modernization of the Organization in order for it
to improve its performance at all levels.
The dramatic transformations that have taken place in the world have
provided humanity with an opportunity to tackle its economic and social
problems and to move forward towards the building of a better world, based on
a collective commitment to peace, interdependence in the face of crises and
partnership in working for development and progress.
While the Middle East region still continues to suffer from its chronic
problems, a gleam of hope has appeared in the midst of the world's changing
realities. A serious peace initiative has shaped up, starting with the
convening in Madrid of a special peace conference on the Middle East on
30 October 1991, under the auspices of the United States of America and the
then Soviet Union.
In response to the letter of invitation from the co-sponsors of the
conference, and on the basis of the United States letter of assurances which
specified the necessity of fully implementing Security Council resolution
425 (1978) and of fully respecting and preserving Lebanon's independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized
borders, Lebanon has participated in the peace conference wholeheartedly and
with clear determination. By so doing, Lebanon has committed itself,
irrevocably, to the pursuance of the peace process within the principles and
parameters upon which it has been based and through which the process is
expected to achieve its objectives, especially the objective of comprehensive,
durable and just peace, and the settlement of the the Arab-Israeli conflict in
all its aspects and with all its complexities.
Lebanon cannot help but be involved in this process of comprehensive
peace on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),
and the land-for-peace formula. Given its history, cultural heritage and
geographic location, Lebanon, since time immemorial, has played a major and
outstanding role in the cultural development of this important region to which
it belongs and of which it is an integral part. It influences what happens in
the region and is greatly influenced thereby. Hence, Lebanon's complete
solidarity with its Arab brethren and its involvement, side by side with them,
in the search for real peace.
We must recall here that Lebanon has borne and continues to bear the
consequences of the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. Let me mention, in this
context, a few of the major aspects:
First, the presence of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Lebanon.
In this respect, let us reaffirm, once more, our total and absolute rejection
of the settlement of Palestinians on the soil of Lebanon. This is against our
national interest, on the one hand, and, on the other, contravenes the
principle of self-determination.
Secondly, the Israeli attack against Beirut International Airport on
28 December 1968. Thirdly, the invasion of southern Lebanon by the Israeli
army in 1978. Fourthly, the massive full-scale Israeli invasion of Lebanon in
1982, which reached Beirut itself, the only Arab capital ever occupied by
Israel. Fifthly, no less than 150,000 fatalities and more than 400,000
injured or disabled over the past 16 years of bloody events in Lebanon, in
addition to the billions of dollars worth of material damage resulting from
destruction and devastation not to mention the human misery resulting from
migration and displacement.
Sixthly, the continued occupation by Israel of parts of Lebanon's territory in
the south and the western Bekaa. That occupation in itself, together with the
attendant Israeli practices and acts of aggression, constitutes flagrant
violations of the principles and norms of international legality.
Herein lies the importance of implementing Security Council resolution
425 (1978), which calls for Israel's complete withdrawal from the occupied
Lebanese territories. Lebanon has always emphasized the need to implement
that resolution through the mechanism referred to in Security Council
resolution 426 (1978), as Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese
territories would create the propitious conditions for Lebanon to regain its
strength and stability, so that it may contribute fully and effectively to the
peace process and, subsequently, carry out faithfully and scrupulously the
commitments resulting from that process.
We believe that if Israel were to allow the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to perform its significant role properly, as mandated by
the Security Council, UNIFIL would be able to discharge its mandate more
effectively and successfully.
To enable UNIFIL to do that would be to reaffirm and highlight the
increasingly important role of the United Nations in peace-keeping. Hence our
call for demonstrating the prime importance of the participation of the United
Nations in the peace process as it is the accredited representative of
international legality whose relevant resolutions constitute the very
foundations of the peace process.
The Lebanese army which has been reorganized and regrouped on a sound and
effective basis has regained its ability to perform its duty in extending the
authority of the Lebanese State over our entire national territory, up to
the internationally recognized Lebanese borders. The Lebanese authorities are
prepared to shoulder their full responsibilities with regard to the
maintaining of law and order and ensuring that the south of the country
becomes an oasis of peace and security under the rule of law and in
cooperation with UNIFIL.
The Lebanese delegation to the peace conference has received assurances
from the Israeli delegation in the name of its Government to the effect that
Israel does not have any territorial ambitions or designs on the land and
waters of Lebanon. This gives us hope that Israel will translate those
assurances into concrete actions by withdrawing completely from all the
Lebanese occupied territories.
Lebanon strongly believes in the right of all parties to mutual security,
provided that the security of any one party is not achieved at the expense of
another's.
Proceeding from the foregoing, we declare from this rostrum and before
this Assembly that the Lebanese Government and people are fully committed to
the peace process and are determined to go ahead, regardless of the
difficulties. We shall spare no effort in ensuring success for the peace
process so that it may achieve its lofty goals. We in Lebanon attach great
importance to the peace talks and realize that their success will be in the
interest of all. We are aware also that to proceed in the opposite direction
will be a blunder for which the region and the whole world would pay very
dearly indeed.
The Lebanese Government continues to address the tremendous problems and
to face up to the challenges that confront Lebanon after years of devastating
strife. It has taken major steps towards rebuilding its constitutional
institutions in accordance with the Taif Agreement and, for the first time in
20 years, has organized national parliamentary elections.
The main task that now faces the Lebanese Government is that of
rebuilding the infrastructure of basic services and the vital sectors of the
economy. Our economic sectors still suffer from the destruction caused by war
and invasion, and the Lebanese people continue to feel the horrendous effects
of galloping inflation due to the decline in the purchasing power of the
national currency. The State budget is in the grip of a huge deficit owing to
the loss of basic sources of national income such as tourism and the service
sector. Regional crises, the latest of which was that of the Gulf, have also
had sharp negative repercussions on the country.
The Lebanese still await the honouring of regional and international
promises of help in revitalizing their national economy. The delay in
supporting the reconstruction and development efforts that are already under
way is very regrettable, particularly since in previous years hundreds of
millions of dollars were poured into Lebanon to fuel the devastating strife
and keep its flames alive.
The revitalization of Lebanon's economy would be an excellent investment
in the future of the region. Lebanon and the Lebanese have played a
pioneering role in modernizing and developing the region, and they still have
the dynamism and ambition to play anew that same constructive role.
At this critical juncture the Lebanese economy is in urgent need of
foreign financial and technical assistance, whether from fraternal or other
friendly countries or from United Nations agencies and other organizations. A
quick and effective investment in the order of billions of dollars is needed.
Lebanese laws and regulations ensure for foreign capital funds and investments
a free and open working atmosphere, the same atmosphere that, previously, had
made Lebanon an important business and financial centre which attracted
international investments and financial establishments of all kinds.
We look forward to the establishment of the Arab and international fund
for the reconstruction and development of Lebanon, as it represents the
promised and effective initiative needed to revitalize the Lebanese economy
and set it on course anew.
Despite the disappearance of a considerable number of international
problems, a number of national problems have re-emerged to take their place
after having remained dormant for half a century. The disintegration of the
Soviet Union and Yugoslavia and the resultant conflicts are prime examples.
In this regard, we denounce and condemn the aggression against Bosnia and
Herzegovina which targets that republic's very existence. This aggression has
caused the death of tens of thousands of innocent victims and the displacement
of hundreds of thousands of civilians. This tragedy requires decisive action
on the part of the international community to stop the military operations, to
preserve the independence and sovereignty of this young republic and to return
all displaced persons to their homes and properties. We commend the
humanitarian role of the United Nations Nations in providing relief assistance
to the besieged towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the face of considerable
difficulties and dangers.
Equally, we commend the sincere and persistent efforts made by the
Organization and its specialized agencies to bring food supplies to the people
of Somalia in their plight. We call upon the international community to
redouble its efforts to put an end to the distressing human tragedy in that
country.
Thus far, the world economic situation and the relations between the
developed and developing countries have not been positively affected by
detente or by the political changes that have taken place in the world. The
problems of foreign debt, the shortfall in development assistance, the rise in
interest rates and the continued trade barriers all constitute serious
obstacles to development in the South, whereas the developing countries are in
urgent need for development if a decent standard of living were to be ensured
for the overwhelming majority of mankind and if the prospects of world peace
were to be guaranteed.
The Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit last June highlighted the relationship
between environment and development. There has been an increasing awareness
over the past decades of the dangers that threaten the ecological balance and
the future of life on the planet. The achievements of the summit were a
promising start toward a series of wide ranging changes in the production and
consumption patterns that countries must adopt with a view to avoiding
climatic changes, depletion of the ozone layer, the spread of desertification,
and air and water pollution as well as managing toxic wastes and radioactive
materials. Here too, interdependence and shared responsibilities appear to be
the only option available to us in our dealings with nature and in our
attempts to achieve sustainable economic growth. While we welcome the
resolutions adopted at the Rio Conference, we entertain the hope that the
necessary funds will be made available to Agenda 21 for the 21st century,
which will help ensure the well-being of future generations as well as the
future of life on earth itself.
The Government of Lebanon continues to pursue its policy of eliminating
the traces of the tragic and devastating period that engulfed the country.
During this year, we have managed to put an end to a problem that was
associated with the name of Lebanon: I refer to the question of hostage
taking. This solution was achieved thanks to the praiseworthy efforts of the
Secretary-General and his personal representative, Mr. Picco, and with the
cooperation of the parties concerned in the region. Lebanon has always
condemned this phenomenon, for it contradicts the basic principles of law and
human rights. Such abnormal practices never served or sought to serve the
interests of Lebanon. Indeed Lebanon has always been their victim.
For many years, the mention of Lebanon or "Lebanonization" evoked images
of fragmentation, devastation and human misery. Today, however, despite all
its difficulties and sufferings, Lebanon stands before the international
community as an example of steadfastness, rebirth, creative coexistence, and
diversity within unity. All of these qualities made Lebanon what it was in
the past and what will make it what it will be in the future: an oasis of
prosperity, openness and a beacon. This is our plan for the Lebanon of
tomorrow. To realize it, we expect support and backing from our brethren in
the region and from all of our friends in the world.