I would like to begin by
extending my warm congratulations to you, Sir, on
your election to the presidency of the Assembly at its
current session. As an incumbent Vice-President, I
assure you of my delegation’s full cooperation in the
discharge of your responsibilities. I also take this
opportunity to place on record our appreciation for
Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, the outgoing President,
for his exemplary leadership during the sixty-third
session.
I thank the Secretary-General for his
comprehensive report on the work of the Organization
(A/64/1). We appreciate his efficient stewardship on
various issues of critical global significance and on the
reform of the United Nations. He also deserves our
thanks for supporting the nationally driven peace
process of Nepal.
I bring greetings and good wishes from the
people and Government of Nepal, a country that
expresses unswerving commitment to the ideals of the
United Nations. We look to the Organization as a true
advocate and upholder of the universal values of peace,
justice, equality, freedom and human dignity. As was
so aptly recognized in the Millennium Declaration
(resolution 55/2), the United Nations is indeed the
indispensable common house of the entire human
family. A more efficient and stronger United Nations is
obviously in the interest of us all.
Sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political
independence, non-interference and the peaceful
settlement of international disputes have become the
bedrock of inter-State relations. These principles,
enshrined in the United Nations Charter more than six
decades ago, represent the highest ideals of
contemporary international relations. They have stood
the test of time and proved to be timeless and
universal. They provide the basis for the smooth and
harmonious conduct of international relations among
States that are sovereign, independent and
interconnected. As we march towards increasing
interdependence through globalization, these well-
established principles and norms of inter-State
relations assume even greater relevance for us.
History stands testimony to the fact that human
civilization has no linear progression. We live in
changing times. Today, the nature, speed and scope of
such changes are astounding. New opportunities and
unforeseen challenges always await us along our way
to peace, progress and prosperity. We often find
ourselves at the crossroads of stability and peace, on
the one hand, and conflict and domination, on the
other. It is only with principled stands and
determination that we have moved towards peace and
development throughout history. Whenever we have
digressed from these principles, perils and catastrophes
have visited us. International solidarity and a true spirit
of global partnership are therefore indispensable, and
multilateralism offers the best means and opportunity
to address the global problems of our times.
Nepal is currently in the midst of a great political
transition. With the signing of the Comprehensive
Peace Accord in November 2006, our decade-long
armed conflict ended and a nationally driven peace
process is now in progress. The Constituent Assembly,
consisting of 601 members elected through a mixed-
proportional system, has been writing a new,
democratic and republican constitution. It is one of the
most inclusive and representative elected bodies in the
history of Nepal. Almost one third of the Constituent
Assembly members are women, and a fair number
represent the country’s various ethnic minorities.
Thematic committees on various aspects of the new
constitution have been preparing their respective
reports following a process of broad consultations with
the Nepali people. We are determined to take the peace
process to a positive and meaningful conclusion, as
envisaged in the Comprehensive Peace Accord, by
building consensus among the political parties through
dialogue and consultations.
We are a multi-ethnic, multilingual and
multireligious country. As we have opted for a Federal
Democratic Republic, we are now restructuring the
State by organizing it into federal units, as desired by
the people of Nepal. We believe democracy is more
meaningful when it is closer to the people. We believe
that reconfiguring the State into federal units is one
such significant step towards deepening the roots of
democracy in our country.
My Government has four major tasks at hand:
taking the peace process to its positive and meaningful
conclusion, writing a new democratic constitution
through the Constituent Assembly within the stipulated
time frame, speeding up the country’s economic
development to lift it up from poverty, and meeting the
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rising expectations of our people in a new democratic
environment. We have been doing our best to
accomplish these tasks through dialogue, consultations
and consensus among the country’s major political
parties.
Looking at the overall progress we have made
over the past three years, there is reason to be forward-
looking and optimistic about Nepal’s peace process.
We have come a long way in terms of our transition
from the decade-long violent conflict. As in every
post-conflict situation, there have been ups and downs
along the way. Managing the legacy of the violent past
with justice and reconciliation and mainstreaming all
the forces involved into a democratic order are the
major challenges before us.
We are for democratic order, peace and stability.
There is no place either for extremism or for permanent
instability in Nepal. The Government is doing its best
to ensure moderation in order to institutionalize
democratic rules and ideals and to leave conflict
permanently behind. I am sure that there is a common
understanding on this issue within the country and
among our friends in the international community. The
desire to avoid a relapse into conflict and to fulfil the
hopes and aspirations of the people has constantly
prodded us to move forward with dialogue, consensus
and unity of purpose. We know that we still have far to
go, and we are determined to reach our destination — a
peaceful, prosperous and stable Nepal.
In achieving that, we know we must be alert to
the desire of our people for both freedom and
development. Freedom rings hollow when there is no
development. Development loses its soul if it is not
accompanied by freedom. These are our twin goals,
and my Government is committed to pursuing them
with clear vision and commitment.
I am confident that we will have the continuous
support and cooperation of the international
community in achieving these goals. Needless to say,
any failure to address the rising expectations of our
people and to provide peace dividends to those affected
by the conflict at the grass-roots level, may have
unintended consequences that challenge the peace and
democratization processes in Nepal and elsewhere.
Therefore, to promote the positive conclusion of the
peace process and to institutionalize our hard-won
democracy, the Nepali people deserve support for
rehabilitation, compensation and reconstruction arising
from the damage that occurred during the conflict. I
request special support from development partners in
addressing our post-conflict development challenges.
We are fully committed to the protection and
promotion of human rights. Since the end of the
decade-long armed conflict and the beginning of the
peace process in 2006, the human rights situation in the
country has improved significantly. The Government is
determined to establish a truth and reconciliation
commission and a disappearance commission as part of
ensuring transitional justice and restoring social
harmony and peace. We already have our National
Human Rights Commission, which is a constitutional
body with full autonomy in its area of work.
We appreciate the continued support of the
United Nations to Nepal’s ongoing peace process
through the United Nations Mission in Nepal. We are
determined to bring the peace process to a positive and
meaningful conclusion as early as possible. As we
ourselves are now undergoing a post-conflict situation,
we understand the importance of peacebuilding in
post-conflict societies. Nepal is pleased to contribute to
the work of the Peacebuilding Commission as a new
member of its Organizational Committee starting this
year. We understand that a review of the activities of
the Commission is slated for 2010. That would provide
an opportunity to assess its activities and also to
explore ways to make peacebuilding a more effective
and innovative mechanism.
Whether it concerns issues of peace, conflict,
terrorism, climate change, the financial crisis, food
security, development challenges or other vulnerabilities,
we are so interconnected that no country can escape
their impacts. The global village has become a palpable
reality before us. Global problems thus require global
solutions. In that context, I welcome the selection of
the theme “Effective responses to global crises:
strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among
civilizations for international peace, security and
development” for this year’s general debate.
The economic and financial crisis that swept the
world within a relatively short span of time is the most
recent reminder of the vulnerability inherent in the
process of globalization and its global implications. If
we look around, we will see that climate change is
another issue staring at us. Regional conflicts are yet
another global issue of concern to us all.
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The least developed countries (LDCs) and
landlocked developing countries, among others, are the
most vulnerable with regard to all those issues. Their
special needs call for more specific and an enhanced
level of international support in terms of their concerns
and challenges. At the same time, the outcome
document of the United Nations Conference on the
World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on
Development (resolution 63/303, annex), held here in
New York in June this year, should be implemented in
all earnestness. We also stress the early implementation
of the outcome document of the International
Conference on Financing for Development (resolution
63/239, annex), held in Doha last year.
While the global financial and economic crisis
wreaked havoc on the already fragile economic health
of the least developed countries, that unanticipated
shock has also brought into sharper relief the urgent
need for an enhanced level of understanding, resources
and a policy space for the developing countries to
mitigate its impact and to avoid its recurrence.
The global crises have posed a serious challenge
to the fight against poverty in the LDCs. The
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can still be
achieved if all of us in the international community act
together, and act urgently. The proposed review of
progress in the implementation of the MDGs should
provide us a renewed opportunity to reinvigorate our
development agenda. We urge the developed countries
not to let the economic and financial crisis become an
excuse for curtailing their aid commitments with
regard to the MDGs and other internationally agreed
development agendas.
Indeed, as recognized at the Group of 20 Summit
in London earlier this year and as so consistently
emphasized by our Secretary-General, the people of
developing countries, especially the LDCs, need their
own international financial rescue package to ensure
that we do not backtrack on programmes towards
achievement of the MDGs.
Nepal is a country with young mountains and a
fragile ecosystem. Global warming, one of the most
ruthless signs of climate change, has led to
unprecedented melting of the Himalayan snow. Nepal
experienced an annual temperature increase of
0.06 Celsius degrees between 1977 and 2000. With
that, the threat of glacial lake outbursts has increased.
Flash floods have become more frequent and more
destructive. Delayed and insufficient rainfall has
affected crop production. The poorest of the poor
farmers have suffered the worst from all those effects.
Agriculture, health, livelihoods and infrastructure are
all being affected by them.
Nepal recently hosted a high-level regional
conference on climate change focusing on the
Himalayan region in order to highlight the seriousness
of the problem of global warming and its impacts on
the Himalayan range. The unprecedented snow melt in
the Himalayas could jeopardize the lives and
livelihoods of over 700 million people downstream and
in the coastal regions. The conference produced a
10-point understanding that emphasizes, among other
factors, the need to put into practice the principles of
common but differentiated responsibilities and the
respective capabilities and historical responsibility of
the developed countries, as envisaged in the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as
well as a financing mechanism on adaptation and
transfer of technologies to sufficiently meet the urgent
and immediate financial needs of the region in a
predictable, easy and direct manner.
Concrete actions that match the level of the threat
are needed. The other day, we had a fruitful discussion
at the Summit on Climate Change, convened by the
Secretary-General. While I thank the Secretary-General
for that important initiative, I urge all to continue that
spirit of positive thinking and to work together to
converge all our efforts to find a just and effective
solution to the ever-increasing problem of climate
change.
The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
should be able to seal the deal and work out a new
global compact to address the problem of climate
change beyond 2012 in keeping with the principle of
common but differentiated responsibilities, with
special consideration given to the characteristics,
vulnerabilities and weaknesses of the least developed
and other developing countries.
The LDCs have particular vulnerabilities
associated with their structural constraints, systemic
deficiencies and historical socio-economic factors. The
bottom half billion people face the daunting task of
improving their living standards despite persistent
efforts and commitment. Their plight is further
exacerbated by the global problems that affect them
disproportionately because they do not have cushions
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or alternatives. Therefore, their plight deserves special
consideration by the international community.
As we prepare for the fourth United Nations
Conference on the Least Developed Countries, we need
to seriously consider the implementation status of the
Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed
Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, and endeavour to
tackle all existing obstacles in our way through a
committed and collaborative partnership. We would
also emphasize the need for full implementation of the
Almaty Programme of Action for landlocked
developing countries.
Nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament
and the proliferation of small arms are matters of
global concern. We welcome Security Council
resolution 1887 (2009), adopted on 24 September 2009,
which seeks to contain proliferation, ban nuclear tests
and bring about further cuts in nuclear weapons.
Disarmament being a comprehensive issue, we
are of the view that promoting regional discourse on
disarmament would help build confidence and prepare
the groundwork necessary for realizing our eventual
goal of general and complete disarmament. In this
context, we see an important role for the United
Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in
Asia and the Pacific, which has been operating from
Kathmandu since last year. We urge Member States to
be generous in extending financial support to the
Centre for conducting its programmes and activities.
In spite of sustained and concerted efforts on the
part of the international community, terrorism
continues to pose a serious threat to international peace
and security. Nepal strongly condemns terrorism in all
its forms and calls for early conclusion of a
comprehensive convention against terrorism. We
reiterate our commitment to combating international
terrorism, including through the implementation of the
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (see resolution
60/288) adopted on 8 September 2006 and of various
Security Council resolutions, such as resolutions 1373
(2001) and 1540 (2004).
After more than 60 years, there is no denying that
the United Nations needs institutional reform and
reinvigoration to maintain continued relevance and
effectiveness. In this context, we hope that the
intergovernmental negotiations started by the General
Assembly can lead to significant reform of the United
Nations system — including the Security Council, by
adding new members in a fair and equitable manner in
such a way as to reflect the current realities of the
contemporary world.
In an increasingly globalized and interconnected
world, the issue of migrant workers has become
prominent. Remittances have become one of the major
sources of earned foreign currency for almost all the
least developed and other developing countries. We
therefore urge the international community to adopt a
comprehensive approach and policy towards migration,
including regarding protection of the rights of migrant
workers in the face of the current economic crisis.
We are concerned about the continued deadlock
in the World Trade Organization’s Doha Development
Agenda negotiations, as well as about the new waves
of protectionism that are built into the inward-looking
stimulus packages being adopted to deal with the
global financial and economic crisis. Given the
exceptional vulnerabilities of the least developed and
landlocked developing countries, developed countries,
in accordance with international compacts and
commitments such as the 2002 Monterrey Consensus,
should immediately make available to them duty-free
entry for their exports, debt-relief packages and other
capacity-building measures. Such resources are very
important to the fight against poverty, hunger, illiteracy
and disease in all the least developed countries,
particularly those affected by conflict, which encounter
huge development challenges in post-conflict recovery.
While peacekeeping remains one of the core
activities of the United Nations, its multidimensional
nature has posed new managerial and logistical
challenges in recent years. Peacekeeping evolved out
of necessity, and it has to be adapted to match the new
and emerging challenges inherent in today’s
increasingly complex peacekeeping missions. In this
context, we appreciate the Secretariat’s “New Horizon”
non-paper, aimed at engaging and ensuring broader
support from Member States and troop-contributing
countries. Let me recall here that Nepal has been one
of the longest-standing continuing partners in United
Nations peacekeeping missions. Today, we are the fifth
largest troop-contributing country. Our commitment to
international peace remains as strong as ever, and our
support for the United Nations in its peacekeeping
activities will continue unabated.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Nepal’s
abiding faith in the principles and purposes of the
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United Nations Charter. We stress the need for
introducing timely reforms in the United Nations and
its operational mechanisms, in order to enhance the
Organization’s role and relevance in the emerging new
global order of the twenty-first century. Nepal is
always willing to contribute in whatever ways it can to
the attainment of the noble objectives of international
peace, security, development and prosperity for all.
As a least developed country, engaged in a peace
process and in rebuilding post-conflict, Nepal has
many challenges to face. My Government is making
every effort to meet these challenges and appreciates
the support extended by the United Nations. At the
same time, we would like the international community
to be more generous in assisting us in our national
endeavour to institutionalize peace and democracy,
rebuild our infrastructure and enhance our economic
growth.