General Assembly Session 59 meeting 22

Mr. Mekdad (Syria)

First, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting to consider the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/59/1). I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report, in view of its importance in the current unstable international circumstances, which require further concerted and sincere efforts to face the great challenges to peace, security and development.

We endorse the statement of the Secretary-General before this Assembly on the work of the Organization, where he stated, regarding the need for a commitment to international law and the United Nations Charter in promoting the rule of law and for curbing the use of sheer force against the weak, "Those who seek to bestow legitimacy must themselves embody it; and those who invoke international law must themselves submit to it." We agree with all those who believe that this Organization is an indispensable forum for the international community to deal with grave challenges and threats, and we view this Organization as the best place to promote multilateralism and the rule of law in order to be able to bring about a world of justice, equality and prosperity.

The report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization is comprehensive and it defines all the important issues considered by the United Nations previously. Some of those have been solved, and some are still awaiting international consensus. One example, and a source of concern for my delegation, is the issue of the Middle East, which is almost as old as the United Nations itself, but for which a just and comprehensive settlement has not yet been achieved.

In paragraph 20, the report states, "the peace process remained stalled and violence persisted". I believe that this can be attributed to the lack of will of a particular party to the conflict, that is Israel, to find a comprehensive settlement, to which we all aspire.

The report of the Secretary-General places importance on realizing a just and comprehensive peace. In this regard Syria reaches out for the realization of a just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, particularly Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), as well as the Madrid peace framework and the Arab Peace Initiative, in a manner that would restore the occupied Arab territories in Golan, Palestine and Lebanon to their owners. The report, in paragraph 21, alludes to Security Council resolutions on the Middle East and other resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its resumed tenth emergency special session, particularly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 acknowledging the legal opinion of the International Court of Justice on the separation wall being constructed by Israel on occupied Palestinian territories. The Court further required that Israel comply with its legal obligations. The resolution also requested the Secretary-General to establish a record of the damages caused by that wall. While we support the establishment of that record, we appeal to the Secretary-General to expedite the process in view of the suffering of the Palestinian people and of the harm they have suffered because of the wall.

The phenomenon of international terrorism has become a source of concern for all. We should work together to eliminate this dangerous phenomenon, and we must deal with its root causes. We agree with the statement made in paragraph 77 of the report that the struggle against terrorism must not take place at the expense of the fundamental freedoms and the human dignity of individuals. We should not therefore deny those rights to peoples under the yoke of foreign occupation that aspire to liberation and independence. We should not confuse the exercise of those rights, which are enshrined in the Charter, with terrorism, which we all condemn.

In that regard, we call again on the United Nations to convene an international conference to arrive at a clear definition of terrorism. We must distinguish between terrorism and the legitimate right of peoples to self-determination in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

The spread of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, is a source of extreme concern to us, and we share the international community's concern at the possibility that such weapons might fall into the hands of terrorists, thereby exacerbating threats to international peace and security.

Syria has been at the forefront of those countries calling for the declaration of the Middle East as a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction. We have been working with determination towards that objective. We have acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); we have concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency; and we have contributed to numerous initiatives aimed at realizing this objective, the latest of which was a draft resolution introduced by Syria on behalf of the Arab Group on 29 December 2003, to free the Middle East of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, under collective international supervision and under the auspices of the United Nations, so as to promote multilateral international agreements in the field of disarmament.

As stated in paragraph 116 of the report, the eight Millennium Development Goals continue to provide a unifying framework for the activities of the United Nations in the area of cooperation for development. In the Millennium Declaration, world leaders stressed the importance of creating an environment conducive to development and to the eradication of poverty at both the national and international levels. Development is a human right that should be provided to all -- not a benefit to some at the expense of others no matter how immense the disparity between the two. It should have a high priority on our agenda, and the process should not be exploited in order to achieve political gains.

We believe that collective efforts to address development issues and to combat poverty and hunger in the developing world in general and in Africa in particular will greatly contribute to addressing the root causes of the crises facing today's world.

In conclusion, my delegation would like to stress the importance of multilateralism in the Organization's efforts to lay the groundwork for tackling all the challenges and security threats facing us. We look forward to the report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change established by the Secretary-General, and we will actively participate in all discussions on the recommendations made by the Panel so we can achieve the common goals that the entire world looks forward to.

Mr. Danesh-Yazdi (Iran)

I would like to convey our sincere thanks to the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the Organization, which makes clear the ever-increasing number and scope of the functions of the Organization. The report reflects the realities on the ground with respect to the various challenges and opportunities facing the international community. It once again stresses that it is only through collective action and a multilateral approach that the United Nations can realize the lofty objectives enshrined in its Charter.

In the meantime, we also look forward to reviewing the recommendations of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change. My delegation believes that the Panel was entrusted with a solemn responsibility, and, accordingly, expects that its recommendations will identify and encompass the objective realities of the threats and challenges confronting the global community today.

The Islamic Republic of Iran shares the Secretary-General's view that the concepts of the rule of law and multilateralism form the only rational basis for a civilized discourse among nations. There is no doubt that those concepts were a profound source of inspiration for the architects of the Charter and constitute the driving force behind the maintenance of international peace and security through multilateral and proactive cooperation among all equal and sovereign nations.

In an era of globalization and at a time when national, regional and global peace and stability are so interlinked and interdependent, it is essential that the supremacy of the law supersede political exigency. Indeed, multilateral approaches compatible with the globalized nature of the current international arena could be pursued within the framework of a civilized dialogue among nations and in tandem with the sustained promotion of international law.

Any circumventive action based on the logic of "might makes right" and characterized by the unilateral and lawless use of force would jeopardize the fundamental pillars of the Organization. Against that background, we fully endorse the remarks made by the Secretary-General in his opening address to this body:

"At the international level, all States -- strong and weak, big and small -- need a framework of fair rules, which each can be confident that others will obey." (A/59/PV.3, p. 3)

I need hardly reiterate that the selective application or arbitrary enforcement of the law is detrimental to the realization of that objective.

In that context, and as noted by the Secretary-General, international peace and stability can be built only on a solid foundation of interdependence, which is central for realizing the rule of law and multilateralism. It also needs to be underlined that the principle of shared responsibility lies at the heart of the Millennium Declaration. That concept represents a fundamental value universally recognized by that Declaration, by which the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development as well as threats to international peace and security should be shared among all nations.

The Secretary-General's perspective on the issue of peace and security must be considered thoroughly. In that respect, my delegation has noted the reference made in the report to the situation in Iraq, including the importance of the presence of the United Nations in that country and the overall security environment, which has so far prevented a larger United Nations presence in Iraq. While concurring with the Secretary-General that a higher level of security is needed in order for the United Nations to have a larger presence in Iraq, we are of the view that the United Nations should more actively engage in a process aimed at empowering the Iraqi people to determine their own destiny.

As a neighbouring country of Iraq that highly values the emergence of that country as a stable, free and democratic State, Iran believes that an independent and prosperous Iraq, with a Government representing all classes in society and holding free and fair elections as scheduled, are essential steps towards the realization of Iraq's full sovereignty and towards its stability.

As noted by the Secretary-General, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, and especially the humanitarian living conditions of Palestinians, continues to deteriorate. He rightly asserted a few days ago that recent measures have led to the deaths of scores of Palestinians, among them civilians, including children. It is alarming and very unfortunate that the Security Council has yet to reach an agreement on the way to prevent the persistence of the crimes that continue to be committed against Palestinians.

On the situation in Afghanistan, we believe that the recent massive popular participation of the Afghan people in the voter registration exercise is a clear sign that the Afghan nation is able and willing to determine its own destiny. Holding fair and free presidential and legislative elections and establishing a broad-based, representative and multi-ethnic Government are vital steps towards the democratization and reconstruction of the country. Nevertheless, we agree with the Secretary-General that a major obstacle to the success of the Bonn process is the increased cultivation of narcotics, which fuels both factional fighting and terrorism. Indeed, the problem of drugs cultivation and trafficking have put political, economic and social development and regional stability in danger.

In the field of disarmament, we share the views so eloquently advanced by the Secretary-General that weapons of mass destruction remain of paramount importance to international peace and security. Nevertheless, it is our considered view that the continued existence of thousands of nuclear warheads in the stockpiles of nuclear-weapon States and the new plans of one of these States to produce usable mini-nuclear weapons -- together with its doctrine of unilateral or pre-emptive use of force, including lowering the threshold for the use of mini-nuclear weapons -- all serve to increase the legitimate concerns of the international community.

We strongly believe that the total elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction is the only absolute guarantee against the possible use or threat of use of those weapons. The continued existence and development of nuclear weapons will only increase the possibility of unauthorized access by non-State actors to those inhuman weapons. Although Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) is considered a preventive measure against that threat, it lacks due attention to the universality of existing multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and instruments as the highest priority of the international community.

Equally important is the issue of international terrorism, which -- in the words of the Secretary-General -- casts its shadow over all the peoples of the world. The United Nations must therefore be engaged in the struggle against terrorism. Effective measures to counter international terrorism also require broad international cooperation. We fully share the view of the Secretary-General that "As we join forces against terrorism, it is imperative that freedom, human rights and the rule of law be upheld and protected". (A/59/1, para. 9)

However, an objective review of recent developments in the international arena confirm the fact that violence and terrorism on the part of non-State actors, on the one hand, and unrestrained militarism on the part of certain States, on the other, are two faces of extremism that are mutually reinforcing, and which are fatally contributing to the escalation of global insecurity and lawlessness. Accordingly, the international community must work together to find a way out of that vicious cycle. To achieve that goal, unambiguous unity of purpose is essential.

International cooperation for development is a major issue on the agenda of the United Nations. Considerable efforts have been made towards the realization of the Development Goals set out in the Millennium Declaration. Nonetheless, much remains to be done. Large parts of the world suffer from poverty, hunger and the lack of proper education and health services. Many factors, including good governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights, contribute to economic and social development. However, we cannot, and should not, undermine the critical role that science and technology play in promoting economic and social development in many developing countries.

It would therefore be appropriate to strengthen the role of the Organization in transferring knowledge and technology in all fields to those countries. A serious obstacle to development is the proliferation and application of economic, commercial and financial embargoes, as well as the imposition of extraterritorial measures and sanctions against developing countries. Those actions are not only in contravention of the basic principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, but also adversely affect the economic and social development of targeted States. The time is right for the Organization to consider how to address the situation and establish an international environment for meaningful cooperation for development.

We believe the issue of the HIV/AIDS pandemic to be a serious health threat that has a negative impact on development, and should therefore be given the highest priority by the international community. However, the magnitude of the threat, which truly needs a global response, should not divert attention from the role and responsibility of the United Nations in other areas of development.

Along the same lines, it is rather discouraging that the report of the Secretary-General has not addressed the very important issue of globalization, despite the current debates taking place at the regional and global levels. It also appears that macroeconomic policy issues have fallen into oblivion. Instead, we have noted a commentary in the report of the Commission on the Private Sector and Development, the content of which should not overshadow other critical aspects of the work of the Organization in the area of development.

With regard to sustainable development, we support the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development in following up the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. The twelfth session of the Commission, which was the first substantive meeting of the Commission after the holding of the Johannesburg Summit, conveyed a strong and courageous message about the need to further strengthen the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. In that regard, we share the views of the Secretary-General with regard to the need for the United Nations to enhance inter-agency coordination and strengthen the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, with a view to supporting capacity-building activities at the country level.

We take note of the Secretary-General's establishment of the Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. It is our hope that by raising awareness and mobilizing resources, the Advisory Board's recommendations can strengthen the implementation of intergovernmental agreements contained in Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. In our view, the Board should focus on finding practical ways to improve implementation, rather than engage in the policy debate on water and sanitation, which is indeed the task of the Commission at its next session.

Humanitarian assistance and humanitarian response, particularly in cases of urgency and natural disaster, remain a priority for the United Nations. According to the Secretary General's report,

"In 2003 some 700 disasters resulted in 75,000 deaths and economic losses of more than $65 billion. The death toll was many times higher than that for the previous year, largely because of the earthquake in Bam, Islamic Republic of Iran." (ibid., para. 109)

I am referring to the tragedy of the earthquake in Bam not only to emphasize the importance of an issue of a purely humanitarian nature, but also to wholeheartedly express our appreciation for the humanitarian assistance offered by all States to the earthquake survivors. We are also thankful to the various United Nations agencies, in particular the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for their timely and tireless efforts in coordinating and providing humanitarian assistance. In fact, the people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran took a leading role, to the best of their ability, in assisting the victims of that catastrophic earthquake.

Next year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations, which coincides with the review of the implementation of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations. The review can provide an avenue for fresh thinking about today's opportunities and challenges. The international community will be in a position to further advance this paradigm to promote peace, democracy and development.

Mr. Dolgov (Russia)

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