General Assembly Session 60 meeting 25

Mr. Kazykhanov (Kazakhstan)

At the outset, I would like to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the work of the Organization, which covers the multifaceted activities of all United Nations institutions. Indeed, this has been a most challenging, crucial and fruitful year in United Nations history. The Secretary-General and the Organization have taken bold and practical steps in several important areas -- namely, security, development and human rights, as well as institutional reforms.

Two weeks ago, we all witnessed the historic United Nations summit. Its outcome document, in the words of the Secretary-General, is "a good instrument to streamline the United Nations to meet the many new challenges of the twenty-first century". Now, we must take coordinated action to fully utilize these new opportunities.

Kazakhstan stresses an urgent need to deal with global challenges to disarmament and non-proliferation. As we all know, the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons failed to set up a balanced and comprehensive mechanism that would strengthen the international non-proliferation regime and facilitate the attainment of the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. More disturbing, however, is the lack of clear recommendations on the burning issues of non-proliferation and disarmament in the outcome document of the 2005 United Nations summit.

Today, challenges and threats, including those involving the uncontrolled spread of nuclear weapons and the risk of their finding a way into the hands of terrorists, have grown manyfold. The elimination of such threats requires joint, well-coordinated and effective action at all levels. We believe that international cooperation in fighting terrorism should be pursued in strict compliance with the norms of international law, and we look forward to the early completion of a comprehensive convention against international terrorism.

We support further the universalization and enhancement of anti-terrorist treaty mechanisms. The signing by Kazakhstan of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism is a practical reaffirmation of that position.

In January 2005, Kazakhstan hosted a meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the Security Council. We consider it very significant that the CTC meeting was convened jointly with the Commonwealth of Independent States in the heart of the Eurasian continent. Counter-terrorism activities in our region are closely linked with efforts to prevent the trafficking of drugs, arms and human beings. Most of the region's organizations pay special attention to the development of cooperation in counter-terrorism activities. We believe that that the experience we have gained in the process might prove useful for the CTC.

For Kazakhstan, the proposed Peacebuilding Commission is a step in the right direction. As its main mission, it should strive to avert the recurrence of situations when the lack of a peacebuilding strategy results in the escalation of internal conflicts and, ultimately, in the further loss by States of their capacity to perform their sovereign functions effectively and responsibly.

Our country is actively working on issues related to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). CICA is a venue for an exchange of views on Asian security. It is encouraging to see that the CICA process is gaining momentum and has, indeed, become an important tool of preventive diplomacy.

Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) should become a central element of the international community's efforts to put an end to poverty, conflict, instability and terrorism. Economic and social development, as well as international cooperation, must become key elements in the preventive approach to collective security. The second national report on the MDGs, recently released in close cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, indicates that our nation has already achieved a number of goals, especially as regards universal education, the eradication of poverty and gender promotion. We are also close to reaching important targets in some other areas.

We commend the United Nations and its specialized agencies for their assistance in addressing the effects of environmental disasters in the Aral Sea area and in the Semipalatinsk region. Problems in those regions are global in scope, as they have a negative effect on the health and livelihood of people in other regions of the globe. In this context, we request the international community to support a draft resolution at the current session of the General Assembly on the Semipalatinsk region, sponsored by Kazakhstan.

We believe that the special needs of landlocked developing countries should be taken fully into account, as outlined in the Almaty Programme of Action. For that reason, Kazakhstan is satisfied that the outcome document of the 2005 United Nations summit contains provisions on improved transit transport capacity of landlocked countries and their access to world markets. In order to stimulate the implementation process of the Almaty Programme of Action, the Government of Kazakhstan, together with the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, held a High-level Meeting on the Role of International, Regional and Subregional Organizations for the Implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action, in Almaty last March. We consider it to be a significant contribution to the implementation of this Programme through strengthened partnerships of all parties concerned, including international, regional and subregional organizations.

Kazakhstan believes that the rule of law is of paramount importance in international relations. We closely link Kazakhstan's development to the further democratization of our society, based on respect for the rights and freedoms of every individual. Therefore, Kazakhstan supports the strengthening of United Nations democratic institutions and human rights machinery. We sincerely hope that these changes are designed to promote the rights and freedoms of citizens and to ensure compliance with the principles of non-interference and sovereign equality of States.

While supporting the reform process, we strongly believe that priority should be given to the General Assembly as the main deliberative, decision-making and representative body of our Organization.

My delegation would like to reiterate that such a sensitive issue as the reform of the Security Council should be resolved on the basis of the broadest possible agreement. We are convinced that the enlargement of the Security Council, in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical representation and on the basis of the contributions of States concerned towards development of the world economy and global security, serves the interests of Member States.

Kazakhstan welcomes the establishment of a standing committee on regional organizations. We hope that improved collaboration of the United Nations with regional organizations will contribute to the collective security system.

Inter-faith dialogue is an integral part of efforts to promote the culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations and to advance the common values outlined in the Millennium Declaration. We believe that the informal meeting on interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace, held within the framework of the 2005 summit in New York and cosponsored by Kazakhstan, made a substantial contribution to enhanced interfaith dialogue.

We are grateful to the international community for lending support to our country's initiatives in this area. Kazakhstan has initiated a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is to be held next year in Astana. We will discuss the topic of religions, society and international security. Kazakhstan expects representatives of other emerging forums, such as the Alliance of Civilizations, to take part in the Congress.

Our people know that development, security and human rights, the three main pillars of today's world, are not abstract concepts. We realize that eventual success in attaining our objectives will be assured through the mobilization of resources and maximization of support from all members of the international community. Kazakhstan is actively and responsibly involved in all major United Nations activities and in recent years has begun to shoulder more responsibility by making voluntary financial contributions to United Nations funds and programmes.

Mr. Zhang Yishan (China)

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