Cambodia

I wish to join other representatives in congratulating you, Sir, on your unanimous election as President of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly. We are confident that 27 under your able guidance the work of this General Assembly session will be another milestone on the new international scene, particularly in confronting the new challenges facing our world, especially after the extremely tragic terrorist attacks of 11 September on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. I believe that the world has completely changed since the attacks against the United States of America, the deadliest terrorist attacks ever committed, in which so many innocent lives were lost. These acts of terrorism shook the world as the images of destruction were broadcast live. They were undoubtedly crimes against humanity. We must strongly condemn these terrorist acts. We cannot forget those who lost their lives and the families of the victims. In this regard, I wish to extend, on behalf of the people and the Royal Government of Cambodia, our most sincere condolences to the families of the innocent victims and the Government of the United States of America. Cambodia fully supports the United Nations resolutions condemning the acts of terrorism against the United States. Cambodia also fully endorses the international efforts in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Cambodia is disturbed, however, over the loss of innocent civilian lives as a result of the bombings in Afghanistan. We must do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties and loss of life. In order to find solutions to the current problems facing our world, I believe that we need to look into not only the root causes of terrorism but also the other contributing factors that are confronting the world today. First, we need to look for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, in particular a solution to the Palestine problem. We need to respect the fundamental right of self-determination of the Palestinian people. In this regard, Cambodia supports the creation of a Palestinian State as early as possible. One may argue that the present situation in the world may have opened a window of opportunity for finding solutions to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. I believe that all parties concerned should, and I hope that they will, give peace in the region a chance, which is the way to overcome the lingering conflict in the region. Secondly, the increase in poverty in the world is another crucial problem that must be addressed with some sense of urgency and collective responsibility. Poverty is unquestionably one of the major causes of the problems in the world today. I think that all nations must join hands to fight poverty throughout the world. At the same time, we must work to reduce the widening gap between the developed and developing countries. In this regard, it is important for us to recall last year’s Millennium Declaration, whose main thrust was a war on poverty in the most comprehensive and most inclusive manner possible. For the developing countries, one of the main challenges in the war on poverty is managing the negative side of an irreversible process of globalization. The key question is how to best integrate ourselves into an ever-accelerating process of globalization so that the developing countries will not be left out or continue to be further marginalized. The process of globalization is a reality without precedent, and no country in this world is immune to, or able to opt out of, the process. At the same time, we should work collectively towards minimizing the negative impact of globalization, which would enable the developing countries to pursue sustainable development and poverty reduction and provide the necessary tools for the people to improve their standards of living. Moreover, we think that if there is no mechanism or principle which is universally accepted in order to manage globalization, the gap between the developed and developing countries will further widen in the future. This is a problem of human security, which the international community must consider finding appropriate ways and means of addressing. Thirdly, another side effect of poverty is the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS worldwide, across regions and continents, affecting mostly the poor and the developing countries. Therefore, we believe that the rich, developed countries should do more to help in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Fourthly, as a contributing factor for combating terrorism, we should attempt to find practical solutions to the growing threat of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons around the globe. In this context, Cambodia fully agrees with the Secretary-General’s statement at the Millennium Summit that the issues of nuclear weapons and illicit trade in small arms and light weapons should be given the highest priority on the United Nations agenda in the area of arms control and 28 disarmament. In this context, Cambodia wishes to call upon all countries to respect all the nuclear-weapons- related treaties, including the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. Cambodia strongly believes that the international community should work towards a gradual reduction of nuclear stockpiles to a minimal level, and non-proliferation and non-production of such weapons in the future, which should be the basis for building and maintaining a peaceful, safe and nuclear- free world. (spoke in French) As a country that has suffered considerably from the proliferation of small arms, Cambodia welcomes the adoption of the Programme of Action at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. In this regard, I congratulate the United Nations on taking bold steps in addressing this vitally important issue. Since 1998, the Royal Government of Cambodia has carried out a nationwide campaign to address the problems regarding such arms. So far more that 120,000 small arms and light weapons have been confiscated, and more than 50 percent of them have been destroyed in the framework of an operation named “Flames for Peace.” Fifthly, for the United Nations to play a greater role in addressing the increasing number of complex problems that are now arising, the Kingdom of Cambodia is of the view that the General Assembly and the Security Council must be reformed so that they become more effective and more efficient. As we may recall, one of the most important pledges contained in last year’s Millennium Declaration was the revitalization of the General Assembly. While progress in the structural and procedural aspects of the General Assembly are vitally important, we must not lose sight of the primary objective of this exercise, which is to return to the General Assembly its original function as the chief deliberative and representative body of the United Nations. In other words, the international community, especially the United Nations as a whole, must play a constructive and proactive role, without exclusivity, including in the struggle against terrorism. I also believe that the current global situation justifies a call for a constructive and timely reform of the Security Council, which must reflect the realities and needs of the world today. The Security Council must be reformed to be made more representative, more democratic and more effective in its decision- making processes. Its membership and structure, passed down since 1945, are inarguably outdated and no longer reflect the political, economic, social and demographic realities of our time or, apparently, the growing issues of human security. As the United Nations Charter mandates the Security Council’s responsibility in the maintenance of international peace and security, it is important for us to ensure that the interests of all nations are sufficiently reflected in the Council’s composition and voting procedures. It is unacceptable, however, that the two thirds of the world’s population residing in the developing countries are not equitably represented in the Council. Such practices could jeopardize the Council’s credibility in the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, Cambodia supports the decision of the non-aligned countries in favour of an additional increase in the number of permanent and non-permanent members and in particular reiterates its strong support for Japan, Germany and India as candidates for permanent membership of the Security Council. In conclusion, it is clear that we are living in a fast-changing world in which the rapid pace of globalization and growing interdependence are the order of the day. Peace, stability and prosperity are interrelated and affect all nations and peoples on this planet, especially following the extremely tragic terrorist attacks in September. It is therefore essential that we work together to build a genuine community of nations in which the gap between the developed and the developing countries is reduced; in which the threat of terrorism and nuclear annihilation are eliminated; in which the danger of a global HIV/AIDS epidemic is mitigated; and in which poverty is alleviated. This can come about only through the development of a more genuine cooperation, the fostering of enhanced mutual respect, the cultivation of greater tolerance, the promotion of better understanding and the emergence of a broader spirit of true union among nations in a world that works on behalf of all. I strongly believe that we can achieve all this through collective will and actions that will help us to usher in a new and brighter future for our world — a world free of terrorism, a world of stability, peace, 29 security, development and prosperity for all peoples in the twenty-first century. Finally, I am pleased to express, on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, our very warm congratulations to Mr. Kofi Annan on his re-election to a second term in the noble post of Secretary-General. I do believe that, with his dedication and long-standing experience in dealing with the many challenges faced by the United Nations, the Secretary-General will certainly achieve more success for the sake of peace and stability for all nations Members of the United Nations.