Myanmar

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate Mr. Jeremić on his well- deserved election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. His country, Serbia, and Myanmar have traditionally enjoyed a close friendship and cooperation. Under his able leadership, the General Assembly will hold deliberations on measures to address the challenges faced by the world today. I am confident that his great wisdom, rich experience and great diplomatic skills will guide our discussions to produce the desired outcomes. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, for his outstanding leadership at the sixty-sixth session. Myanmar consistently pursues an independent and active foreign policy, a basic tenet of which is to actively contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security. In so doing, we encourage efforts to settle differences among nations by peaceful and amicable means. Our position is consistent with the essence of the theme of the current session, namely, “Bringing about adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means”. There are different views and assessments regarding the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Brazil in June. A number of important decisions were taken on various issues, such as the renewal of commitments, the linkage of sustainable development to the Millennium Development Goals, renewable energy and the establishment of arrangements for better coordination on sustainable development. Member States must turn those decisions into actions in order to leave the legacy of a safe and sustainable environment to our future generations. Since becoming a Member State, Myanmar has always adhered to the founding principles of the United Nations. Our participation in the General Assembly here in New York amply demonstrates our commitment to active participation in, and support of, the work of the Organization. Today’s world is full of new challenges and opportunities. Urbanization and industrialization are taking place in developing countries on an unprecedented scale. Rapid progress in information technology gives the impression that our world is getting smaller. Meanwhile, the natural environment and the climate are facing new threats and challenges. In short, the world is changing as never before. It is also timely and appropriate to devote attention during the current session to issues such as the post-2015 development agenda and the rule of law. Myanmar is moving forward on the democratic path, but that has not been an easy task. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to share our experiences in that regard. In the ongoing reform process, we face challenges as well as opportunities. Within a short time, the people of Myanmar have brought about remarkable changes. I feel greatly privileged and honoured to dutifully serve the people as their President at this crucial time in the history of our nation. I truly consider my people as my own parents and elders. Since I took office some 18 months ago, the parliament, the judiciary, the armed forces, the ethnic groups, the political parties, civil society and the people at large have been taking tangible and irreversible steps in the democratic transition and reform process. Leaving behind a system of authoritarian Government, in which the administrative, legislative and judicial powers were centralized, we have now established a democratic Government and a strong and viable parliament that follows a practice of checks and balances. Despite the challenges, we can now see encouraging progress and significant developments in the country. Those include the granting of amnesties to prisoners; the dignified return of exiled political forces; the successful convening of the 2012 by-elections in a free, fair and transparent manner; the abolition of media censorship; freedom of access to the Internet; the establishment of worker and employer organizations; and increased participation by the people in the political process. At the current stage of the political process, we can see the emergence of democratic traits, such as the increasing participation of various political forces and their mutual tolerance, magnanimity, the expanded scope of political participation, representation and accountability. Our Government and other stakeholders have fostered a new political culture of tolerance and dialogue. The former main opposition leader, Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, now participates in parliament, not only in her capacity as a member but also as Chairperson of the parliamentary Rule of Law and Stability Committee. She is also in New York this week. As a Myanmar citizen, I would like to congratulate her on the honour that she has received in this country in recognition of her efforts for democracy. Our country’s political progress is strengthening its political legitimacy. That, in turn, facilitates the establishment of basic political stability, thereby paving the way for the economic and social transformation necessary for better living standards for the people. The legislative body has also developed well and functions more effectively at every sitting. Parliament has now adopted landmark laws through democratic practices. We are promulgating laws and by-laws, taking into account the fact that economic development must not widen the gap between the rich and the poor. The rights of citizens must be protected. The natural environment must be preserved. Our workers should enjoy rights in line with international standards. We give carefull consideration to investments in the extractive sectors, such as energy, to ensure transparency and impartiality. We believe that the cessation of all armed conflicts is a prerequisite to building genuine democracy. As such, we place high priority on achieving lasting peace in the country. In accordance with our motto “From war to peace”, we are striving to put an end to the long- standing problems in regions inhabited by our ethnic groups. To date, we have reached ceasefire agreements with 10 armed groups. We will continue the peace talks, while further strengthening confidence-building measures. Peace negotiations at the national level will then continue towards a final peace agreement, which would completely end the armed hostilities. In order to redress the situation in northern Myanmar, leaders of the Union Peace-making Work Committee and the Kachin armed group are holding informal consultations and are working to further strengthen confidence-building measures. We consider any loss of life and property on either side in the armed conflict as a loss for the country. While the Government is resolutely pursuing political, social and economic reforms, some unfortunate and unexpected issues have arisen. A case in point is the recent communal violence in Rakhine State. In that connection, I would like to mention in the first place that the people inhabiting our country, regardless of race, religion and gender, have the right to live in peace and security. As the Assembly is aware, an independent national-level investigation commission has been established to look into the issue. To ensure impartiality, the commission is composed of representatives from all strata of society, including widely respected personalities from the Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and Hindu faiths. Upon completion of its task, the commission will submit its findings and recommendations to me. Demonstrating our determination to resolve the issue in a transparent manner, we have facilitated field visits to Rakhine State by representatives from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United Nations agencies, the United States and resident foreign diplomats in Myanmar. Access is being facilitated to those organizations that are willing to provide relief assistance to both communities without discrimination. The issue at hand cannot be resolved overnight. It will be resolved by taking short-term and long-term measures through a multifaceted approach, taking into account political, economic and social aspects. I sincerely believe that as an independent and sovereign State, Myanmar has done the right thing to secure our borders and to safeguard our sovereignty. We will do our utmost to resolve the issue in line with international norms. I am well aware of the fact that Myanmar’s democratic transformation process will be a complex and delicate one that requires patience. To complete the process, we certainly need the understanding and support of the United Nations and its States Members, the international community as a whole and, last but not least, the people of Myanmar. At the same time, it is equally important that Myanmar should be viewed from a different and new perspective. It is also necessary for us to be able to work in a more favourable environment than ever before. Myanmar is now ushering in a new era. As a member in the family of nations, Myanmar will participate more actively in the activities of the United Nations in various fields. Standing as a responsible and respectable nation on the world stage, we will take on the challenges of the twenty-first century in a bold and resolute manner. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Ban Ki-moon on his reappointment as General-Secretary and on his achievements thus far. Before I conclude, allow me to brief ly mention an important figure, namely, U Thant, a brilliant son of Myanmar who served as the third Secretary- General. Even in those days, U Thant had a vision of one world. He envisioned a global society guided by the spirit of one world — a world safe for diversity and a place of peaceful coexistence where global citizens could practice the virtues of tolerance, cooperation, understanding and compassion. We believe that if we make his vision a reality, we will soon achieve a world that is more peaceful and prosperous. U Thant’s tireless endeavours for peace and his achievements during his tenure as the Secretary-General will never be forgotten. The people of Myanmar will always take pride in and remember him as a great son of Myanmar.