At the
outset, allow me to congratulate Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon on his well-deserved reappointment and to
wish him continued success in his high and responsible
mission. It also gives me great pleasure to congratulate
Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his election as
President of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth
session.
We welcome the newest member of our family,
South Sudan, which just joined the United Nations as
our 193rd Member State.
The world today is undergoing great
transformations. The year-long global financial crisis
gives little sign of being resolved in the near future.
Even the most developed economies of the world are
experiencing the most serious trials of their histories.
At the same time, we are fascinated by the success of
countries that only yesterday were struggling against
poverty and stagnation. Humankind is experiencing
changes of the most extreme kind. We believe that at
this historic moment the United Nations must stay
ahead of the new realities and lead humankind to
positive new beginnings.
The people of Kyrgyzstan have been watching the
historic developments in North Africa and the Middle
East with feelings of solidarity and sincere empathy.
One spring, a year before the Arab Spring, we
overthrew tyranny in our own land. Our country in the
heart of Central Asia has now moved from a harsh
presidential form of Government to a parliamentary
Government.
Last year, despite serious obstacles, Kyrgyzstan
succeeded in holding what were recognized by
international observers to be unprecedented, free and
fair parliamentary elections and a constitutional
referendum. Kyrgyzstan is now ruled by a coalition
Government that, together with an active and
influential parliamentary opposition, is learning to find
solutions to problems in the interests of the whole of
society, and not just cater to the ever-increasing
demands of kleptocrats, as it did before. Mechanisms
are now in place to ensure transparency in Government
decision-making.
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The authorities’ new openness and accountability
to the people have already begun to bear fruit. The
economy is growing. Over the past year alone,
investments in education and health care have
increased significantly. A fundamental reform of the
judiciary has begun. This year, on 30 October the
people of Kyrgyzstan will take part in the final phase
of the transitional period — the election of a new
president of the Republic. In Kyrgyzstan, we want to
establish a tradition of peaceful, civilized transfer of
power, in accordance with the Constitution and in the
interests of the people.
Before the world community, I wish from this
rostrum to address my own people. Our striving for
democracy and unwavering push to build an open
society are at the centre of the world’s attention. The
whole world is watching us. We must be worthy of and
cherish the freedom that we have won at such a high
price. We have no right to divide ourselves along
ethnic, regional or religious lines. Pan-national unity,
the rule of law, good governance, civic participation
and a free press are the achievements that will help us
to build a prosperous and strong country.
(spoke in Kyrgyz; English text provided by the
delegation)
My beloved Kyrgyz nation! Cherish your
independence, preserve your unity and strengthen your
democracy!
(spoke in Russian)
I take this opportunity to invite Member States
and international organizations to send their observers
to Kyrgyzstan for the upcoming presidential election.
On the basis of our 20 years’ experience of
independence, we know that the path from victory over
authoritarian regimes to building a functioning
democracy is not a straight or easy one. In recent
decades, the wealth of the people of Kyrgyzstan, like
that of the people of many other countries, has been
plundered by corrupt and criminal rulers. Billions of
dollars have been spirited out of the country. Dictators
should be held accountable for committing crimes
against their own people and should not be welcomed
or provided refuge abroad.
The time has come for our Organization to
develop clear standards and procedures to ensure
justice and the return of embezzled funds to their
rightful owners. This is not about settling personal
accounts or politically motivated harassment; it is
above all about delivering justice and ending impunity.
We are convinced that restoring peace and
strengthening the rule of law in Afghanistan will
depend less on coercive measures than on the pace and
methods we use to resolve social and economic
problems. We believe that the decision to withdraw
international troops from Afghanistan must be taken
only once the situation there has been tangibly
stabilized and once the Afghan National Army and
Police have sufficient capacity to assume responsibility
for the security of their country and its borders.
We continue to cooperate with the international
community and the United Nations system in
overcoming the consequences of the last year’s clashes
in the city of Osh. In this regard, I am sincerely
grateful to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the
secretariat of the Peacebuilding Fund for supporting
our efforts to build sustainable peace.
Turning to the main theme of the sixty-sixth
session of the General Assembly, “The role of
mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful
means”, I wish to refer specifically to the role of
women in times of crisis and to their courage and
sincerity, which were praised by President Roussef
from this rostrum. When peace is broken and men take
up arms, it is women who often take responsibility for
ending violence and restoring peaceful life in their
communities. The leadership of mothers, wives and
sisters can force politicians to resolve their
disagreements on the basis of compromise and mutual
understanding. Worldwide, women are a force for
peace.
That is precisely the case in my country, where
women are helping to restoring peace and enhancing
democracy. One-third of the seats in Parliament are
held by women. The President of the Supreme Court,
the Attorney General, the President of the National
Bank, ministers, governors, countless activists and
local leaders are also women. I firmly believe that,
under the strong leadership of Michelle Bachelet, the
new, important body that is UN-Women will become a
champion of women’s rights around the world.
Kyrgyzstan is concerned by the shrinking
attention of the world community to global climate
change. In every corner of the world, including our
region, this issue has become a part of every country’s
security.
21 11-50865
We have waited too long to welcome Palestine as
a full Member of the United Nations. As early as 1995,
Kyrgyzstan recognized Palestine along its 1967
borders, and we join the Secretary-General in his call
for Israel and Palestine to return to the negotiating
table. Palestine and Israel should become good
neighbours on the basis of the two-State solution. The
citizens of both countries must finally enjoy their right
to live in their lands in peace and security. We, the
nations of the world, hope for the earliest possible
resolution of this long-running conflict.
My country has submitted its candidacy for a
non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the
period 2012-2013. The Kyrgyz Republic, as a member
of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries and
the group of small countries with economies in
transition, and as a young democracy with a multi-
confessional population, supports the need for the
wider representation of all categories of countries on
the Security Council. In this regard, I request Member
States to support Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy to a
non-permanent seat on the Security Council.
The agendas of our meetings and daily headlines
are dominated by natural disasters, financial crises and
political upheavals. The absence of justice,
discrimination and severe violations of human rights
remain a part of our lives. At the same time, however,
we are witnessing with bewilderment inspiring
historical changes, amazing technological progress, the
eradication of previously incurable diseases and, over
the course of just one generation, the lifting of
hundreds of millions of people out of destitution and
disenfranchisement.
In this time of change, we must do our utmost to
ensure that that the young people of our planet are as
knowledgeable, as optimistic and as courageous as
possible in efforts to achieve prosperity, peace and
security around the world. Young people are not just
the future of humankind; they are also its present. Let
us all open every door and create every opportunity for
the growth and development of the younger generation.
Tomorrow is born today!