General Assembly Session 56 meeting 7

The President

The General Assembly, in accordance with the decision taken at its 3rd plenary meeting on 19 September 2001, will begin its consideration of agenda item 10, entitled "Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization".

I give the floor to the Secretary-General to give a brief presentation of his annual report.

The Secretary-General

Two weeks ago, as all representatives will remember, we were looking forward to this day, as the day when we would begin our general debate. Many members expected to be represented here by their head of State or Government or by their foreign minister.

I myself had hoped to set out what I see as the main priorities for our work for the next five years. Alas, that was two weeks ago. Thirteen days ago, on a day none of us is likely to forget, our host country and our beloved host city were struck by a blow so deliberate, heartless, malicious and destructive, that we are all still struggling to grasp its enormity.

In truth, this was a blow, not against one city or one country, but against all of us. It was an attack not only on our innocent fellow citizens -- over 60 Member States were affected, including, I am sad to say, my own country -- but on our shared values. It struck at everything this Organization stands for: peace, freedom, tolerance, human rights and the very idea of a united human family. It struck at all our efforts to create a true international society, based on the rule of law.

Let us respond by reaffirming, with all our strength, our common humanity and the values that we share. We shall not allow them to be overthrown. On the very day after the onslaught, the Security Council rightly identified it as a threat to international peace and security. Let us therefore respond to it in a way that strengthens international peace and security, by cementing the ties among nations and not subjecting them to new strains. This Organization is the natural forum in which to build such a universal coalition. It alone can give global legitimacy to the long-term struggle against terrorism.

On that same day -- 12 September -- your Assembly, Mr. President, in resolution 56/1, called for urgent action to enhance international cooperation and to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism. I welcome that resolution, as well as the Assembly's decision to address the scourge of terrorism in greater detail next week. Among other things, that will be an occasion to stress the urgency of ratifying, and above all implementing, the existing conventions on international terrorism, and to consider agreeing on new instruments to combat this heinous crime.

The need for a vigorous response to terrorism, and for a sustained, comprehensive strategy to defeat it, is not in doubt. But we also need to give greater urgency to our humanitarian task of relieving the victims of conflict and starvation, especially, at this time, those displaced from their homes in Afghanistan.

The attack of 11 September was also an attack on the freedom of human beings to travel, to exchange goods and services -- everything a world trade centre stands for -- and to exchange ideas.

Some commentators have rushed to assert that this confirms the dismal thesis of an inevitable clash of civilizations, according to which we face a century of conflict between people of different faiths and cultures. Let us affirm the opposite. Let us recall that the Assembly has proclaimed this year the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations.

Let us reassert the freedom of people from every faith and culture to meet and mingle and to exchange ideas and knowledge, in mutual respect and tolerance -- to their mutual benefit and the benefit of all mankind.

Finally, the attack of 11 September was an attack on the rule of law -- that is, on the very principle that enables nations and individuals to live together in peace by following agreed rules and settling their disputes through agreed procedures.

So let us respond by reaffirming the rule of law at the international and the national level.

No effort should be spared in bringing the perpetrators to justice in a clear and transparent process that all can understand and accept. Let us uphold our own principles and standards, so that we can make the difference unmistakable, for all the world to see, between those who resort to terrorism and those who fight against it.

Responding appropriately to this vicious onslaught is indeed a vital task. But we must not let it distract us from the rest of the work we have to do. In no way do these tragic events make the broader mission of the United Nations less relevant. On the contrary -- and especially if we allow them to succeed in tipping the world economy into recession -- these events will make that mission even more urgent.

Let us not respond to economic uncertainty in a way that is sure to make it worse, by seeking to protect national markets against free exchange. Instead, as we prepare for the meeting of the World Trade Organization in Doha, let us strengthen our international trading system and make sure that its benefits are available to all, especially the developing countries.

International cooperation is needed now more than ever in managing the world economy and in ensuring that the costs of adjustment do not once again fall most heavily on developing countries.

We must not allow these events to set us back in our fulfilment of the pledges given one year ago by our heads of State and Government in their Millennium Declaration -- such as the promise to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day; to ensure universal primary education for girls and boys alike; to halt and begin reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS; and to preserve the planet for future generations by adopting a new ethic of conservation and stewardship.

Those tasks remain as urgent as they ever were -- if anything, more so; and this Organization's work to advance them -- which is described in detail in the report that is before the Assembly -- remains as important as ever.

These longer-term issues of development can and must be addressed during this session of the Assembly. Our understandable preoccupation with the fight against terrorism must not lead us to neglect them.

The social and economic evils in our world are all too real, as is the need to make globalization work for all the peoples of the world by embedding a new global economy in values of solidarity, social justice, and human rights.

But these things cannot be achieved by violence. On the contrary, the hope of relieving world poverty will only diminish if the world is polarized into mutually hostile camps of rich and poor, or North and South.

The only route that offers any hope of a better future for all humanity is that of cooperation and partnership, in which all social forces -- States, the private sector, institutions of learning and research, and civil society in all its forms -- unite their efforts in pursuit of specific, attainable goals.

At the centre of all these partnerships must stand this Organization -- which, one year ago, heads of State and Government undertook to strengthen and make more effective, because they considered it

"the indispensable common house of the entire human family." (A/RES/55/2, para. 32)

The United Nations must listen to all these different partners. It must guide them. It must urge them on. The United Nations must provide a framework of shared values and understanding, within which their free and voluntary efforts can interact and reinforce each other, instead of getting in each other's way.

And -- to quote the Millennium Declaration once more -- it is through the United Nations that the peoples of the world must seek to realize their

"universal aspirations for peace, cooperation and development". (ibid.)

That is the path traced for us by our heads of State and Government one year ago. Let us not be shaken, even by the unspeakable horror that we witnessed 13 days ago, in our determination to proceed along it.

Let us reject the path of violence, which is the product of nihilism and despair. Let us prove by our actions that there is no need to despair; that the political and economic problems of our time can be solved peacefully; and that no human life should be sacrificed, because every human being has cause to hope.

That, I believe, is the true business of the Assembly and the true mission of this Organization.

Mr. Ivanov (Russia)

This session of the General Assembly has begun its work under tragic circumstances. The entire civilized world shares the grief of the American people. We also mourn all of those who have fallen victim to terrorists in different parts of the globe. In today's interdependent and globalized world, the pain of bereavement is common to us all, regardless of where a terrorist act may have occurred.

The recent tragedy makes it dramatically clear that the sweeping changes that globalization has brought about in all areas of modern life entail both positive and negative consequences for all of humankind.

On the one hand, the threat of global nuclear confrontation has become a thing of the past. Advances in science and technology and the rapid expansion of world trade and economic relations are providing the necessary conditions for the sustainable development of all humankind. On the other hand, the benefits of globalization have turned out to be simply inaccessible to most States, and the gap between the most developed and the least developed countries continues to widen rapidly. Finally, the world is confronting new threats and challenges, such as aggressive separatism, organized crime, illegal drug trafficking, in addition to international terrorism.

Given these circumstances, the international community is facing the tremendous task of responding adequately and, most importantly, collectively to the challenges of our time. There is an urgent need to develop a joint action strategy that could make use of globalization for a just and fair resolution of the key problems that mankind is facing and for the strengthening of universal security. In this context, we subscribe to the idea, articulated in the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization, that it is necessary to strengthen and enhance the role of the United Nations as an indispensable instrument for maintaining international peace and security and for mobilizing the people of the world against new, unprecedented threats. With its firm commitment precisely to this approach in shaping a new world order, the Russian Federation advocates the adoption of collective measures that would make globalization processes manageable and therefore secure. Each State should see for itself that the results of globalization can indeed contribute to its prosperity and well-being.

An efficient mechanism for globalization management should be comprehensive and should cover all areas, from the political and military to the humanitarian. The Russian Federation is open to the closest cooperation with other States with a view to attaining this objective, which is of primary importance for the future of humankind.

In fighting new dangers, of which international terrorism is no doubt the greatest, the main objective is to set up a global system to counteract new threats and challenges. Such a system should integrate relevant multilateral interaction mechanisms, including early warning and the prevention of emerging threats, as well as a resolute and adequate response to any of their manifestations, within the framework of international law and under the coordinating leadership of the United Nations.

As far as the political sphere is concerned, as the Secretary-General has just noted correctly, we have in mind the comprehensive implementation of the decisions of the Millennium Summit and Assembly, made here a year ago, primarily those concerning the establishment of a just and violence-free democratic world order serving the interests and aspirations of all States and peoples. This can only be achieved if all countries are equal before world law based on the United Nations Charter and other fundamental principles and rules of international law, and hold them sacred.

The strengthening, and not the erosion, of international law and order should prevail in the era of globalization. Just as a democratically viable State can be built only on a solid legislative foundation, more robust international legal norms are required for a new world order to take shape.

Developing a kind of international law that is sensitive to the changing world calls for joint coordinated efforts, while any unilateral actions in a world where destinies of countries, peoples and individuals are becoming increasingly intertwined will only erode the rule of law, thus compromising the international community's capacity to efficiently address emerging and ever more dangerous challenges.

A State's prestige among nations should be measured not by its military or economic might but, rather, by its ability to responsibly fulfil its international obligations.

In the military sphere, the priority task is to strengthen strategic stability as the critical component of international security. We understand the Secretary-General's concern, expressed in his report, over the continuing growth of global military expenditures and the low level of international cooperation on disarmament.

Fully aware of its role in ensuring international security, the Russian Federation has put forward a detailed, realistic programme to enhance strategic stability and expedite the disarmament process. The president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has called upon the five nuclear Powers and permanent members of the Security Council to initiate a process of consultation on nuclear disarmament and strategic stability.

We reaffirm our proposal to the United States on a coordinated reduction of strategic offensive weapons to 1,500 nuclear warheads for each party by 2008, possibly followed by a further reduction. It should be recalled that in 1990, at the end of the cold war, the aggregate strategic nuclear arsenals of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States alone amounted to 20,834 warheads. This initiative, if implemented, would both help consolidate global stability and significantly boost joint efforts to build a new strategic relationship between Russia and the United States. It would also be an unprecedented breakthrough in nuclear disarmament and a strong incentive to enhance the regimes of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to make the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty universal.

Preventing the deployment of weapons in outer space forms an important part of the set of measures designed to ensure strategic stability. It is our common duty to coming generations to keep outer space peaceful through joint efforts. Russia invites the world community to start working out a comprehensive agreement on the non-deployment of weapons in outer space and on the non-use or threat of force against space objects. The first practical step to this end could be a moratorium on deploying weapons in outer space, pending a relevant international agreement.

In addition to the traditional disarmament agenda, the era of globalization brings new challenges to international security, thus raising the number of States involved in disarmament. This includes the non-proliferation of missile technologies, the elimination of chemical weapons, the non-development of bacteriological weapons, and blocking the channels of illegal trafficking in small arms and light weapons.

In a word, there is a great accumulation of disarmament-related issues that call for thorough and comprehensive discussion. To that end, a fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament seems to be the most appropriate forum, and the Russian Federation actively supports the idea of convening it.

In peace-making special attention should be given to the introduction of a culture of conflict-prevention into international practice. The Russian Federation supports the main ideas of the Secretary-General's special report on that matter. There is no time to lose. With acute crises in various parts of the globe posing a real threat to international security, rapid and concerted action is called for. In that respect, events in the Middle East and the Balkans are of particular alarm.

When seeking to resolve crisis situations we cannot remain oblivious to their underlying causes. As a rule -- especially where the African continent is concerned -- crises have their origins in social and economic problems. The specific features of regional crises noted by the Secretary-General -- such as their expanding sources of funding and the availability of a tremendous choice of weapons -- are in tune with the initiative put forward by President Vladimir Putin in addressing the need to cut off external sources of support for conflicts.

Globalization has greatly broadened the horizons of international cooperation in the economic sphere by providing unparalleled opportunities for the movement of goods, capital and services. Sophisticated industries have emerged in various parts of the world. However, has that benefited everyone? Have famine and illiteracy been eradicated from the world? Definitely not. Rich States have become richer by reaping the fruits of globalization, while poor States have found themselves even poorer. If the current trend persists and wealth continues to grow on only one side, the other side will see an inevitable rise in social tension and political extremism. The only way to prevent that is to enhance the social component of globalization and to put an end to discrimination in international economic relations.

The formation of a global information space epitomizes the world integration process. We can now follow live coverage of world events as they unfold. However, the information space has become a popular target for various extremist forces. The threat of cyber-terrorism is growing. Censorship has been replaced by a no less dangerous evil, that of information wars capable of causing instability. That has jeopardized freedom of speech and the right of citizens to truthful information. Concrete steps are therefore required to strengthen international information security. With the direct participation of Russia, this issue has already been the subject of detailed discussions in the United Nations.

Environmental problems are today as relevant to human survival as military ones. Our future depends on the state of the environment. Its preservation is therefore our common challenge and great responsibility. Russia reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol.

On the whole, climate-related issues require a comprehensive approach. Taking this into account, Russia has proposed to convene in 2003 a world conference on climate change that would bring together Governments, business and academic communities, as well as civil society.

Globalization has greatly expanded opportunities in the humanitarian field. The very concept of human rights has ceased to be an exclusively internal affair of States and has acquired universal scope. The Secretary-General notes that

"Today, universal ideas -- the sovereignty of the people, accountability of leaders, individual rights, and the rule of law -- are spreading around the world. Yet there is no guarantee that these values will not be reversed, and that some nations will not once again succumb to tyranny and oppression." (A/56/1, para.5)

Like other States, Russia strongly condemns flagrant violations of human rights in any part of the world. At the same time, we are firmly convinced that the international community should respond to humanitarian crises solely on the basis of a solid grounding in law and legitimacy based on the Charter of the United Nations.

Unbiased analysis convinces us that globalization must be manageable. There is therefore a need for a unified centre that could coordinate national, regional and international efforts in that area. The role of such a centre belongs rightfully to the United Nations. The universal nature of the world Organization, its wealth of experience in multilateral cooperation, its considerable resources and organizing capacities make it possible for it to fulfil the most complicated tasks with regard to making globalization serve all members of the international community. In fulfilling its functions, the United Nations must adequately respond to the challenges of the times, constantly strengthen its operational potential and enhance the effectiveness of its actions. This is precisely what we see as the purpose of the United Nations reform process.

Globalization shrinks space and time, making the world an ever smaller place. Today, we all have an immense responsibility to succeeding generations. We must strengthen the positive trends of globalization and only use them in a way that would benefit the entire human race. We are convinced that, by jointly achieving that goal, we will be able to build a truly safe, stable and prosperous world in the twenty-first century.

Mr. Hume (United States)

I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report. He has underscored the importance of the United Nations agenda and the work that the United Nations is committed to; and that the entire membership has a new and overarching challenge after 11 September.

My delegation would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all who have expressed condolences and pledged support in the wake of the terrible events of 11 September. Americans also realize that people from dozens of other countries lost their lives in those attacks. This tragedy is truly global in scope, and so must be the response. The people of the United States also stand with those of you who are grieving for your own. We offer our deepest sympathies to you and to your people.

A week from today, in this Hall, the membership will discuss measures to eliminate international terrorism. We look forward to that discussion, which we hope will help promote unity of purpose and strong steps the United Nations can take to combat terror. The United Nations must play an international role in marshalling the international community's efforts to defeat this scourge. Those efforts will also require absolute clarity that the international community condemns and rejects any effort to offer false justification for the attack, or to protect those who committed it.

This is a crucial moment for the United Nations. It has a chance to live up to the ideals on which it was founded. The United States pledges its support to the United Nations. We are eager to work with other Member States to improve the Organization and to support the work of the Secretary-General. His report shows that the United Nations agenda remains broad and we will continue to work on this agenda even as we focus immediately on the overarching challenge of international terrorism.

The effort to reform the United Nations has made progress in recent years. This progress must continue. One specific action the United Nations can take immediately - and is, in fact, overdue to take - is to put sunset provisions in place. Sunset provisions would ensure that United Nations programme activities do not go on and on unless their relevance and effectiveness are regularly affirmed. This reform measure is covered by the Secretary-General's report and it has been on the table since 1997. The United States looks forward to more productive work with the United Nations membership and on many other reform matters during the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly.

Great challenges lie ahead for this Organization. The United States believes that it is in the vital interests of the world community to enhance the relevance of the United Nations and the United States vows to work with all Members to achieve that end.

Mr. Baali (Algeria)

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