speech of win aung (r)

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

The following is the Statement by U Win Aung, Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Chairman of the Delegation of the Union of Myanmar in the General Debate of
the
Fifty Fourth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, on 24
September 1999. 


Mr President, 

Allow me to begin by extending to you the warmest congratulations of the
delegation of the Union of Myanmar on your unanimous election as the President
of the fifty fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly. Heavy and
onerous are indeed the duties and responsibilities that befall upon you at
this
particular session. The task before the President of the General Assembly in
any year is by no means easy. It is even more so this year, as this session
has
the additional task of undertaking the preparatory work for the Millennium
Session next year. But we are fully confident that your great wealth of
experience and outstanding diplomatic skills will stand you in good stead in
the discharge of your responsibilities and that you will bring this session to
a successful conclusion. I pledge the fullest cooperation of my delegation for
the advancement of the work of this Assembly under your able leadership. I
also
wish to pay our tribute to your predecessor His Excellency Mr Opertti, for his
invaluable contribution to the successful conclusion of the previous
session of
the General Assembly. Our tribute also goes to the Secretary-General, Mr Kofi
Annan, for this untiring efforts in leading the World Organization so
effectively through these extremely challenging and difficult years. 


Mr President, 

Myanmar consistently supports the principle of the universality of membership
of this world organization. We are, therefore, most delighted to see in our
midst three new members this year. On behalf of the delegation of the Union of
Myanmar, I should like to extend our warmest congratulations to the
delegations
of the Republic of Kiribati Nauru and the Kingdom of Tonga who have taken
their
rightful places in this august Assembly. 


Mr President, 

We live in a rapidly changing world. With the end of the Cold War, the old era
of bipolar world has been a thing of the past. The world is in transition from
the old to the new world order, which has not fully taken shape. At this
critical juncture, the world is faced with uncertainties and unsettling
situation. Sometimes the world had even fallen victim to these turbulences and
chaos. In dealing with such situations, it is our view that any solutions
sought or measures taken even with the best of intention should be strictly in
conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
Furthermore, universally recognized principles governing international
relations and the principle of respect for state sovereignty should be taken
into account before resorting to measures of extreme nature in connection with
a particular situation. 


Mr President, 

One outstanding question relating to the reform of the United Nations is the
reform of the structure and working methods of the Security Council. We are
encouraged to see that the General Assembly has taken a significant procedural
step by adopting a resolution on the requirement of two-thirds majority in
taking decisions and resolutions on this questions. With regard to the core
issue of enlargement of the Security Council, there are various proposals on
the table regarding the possible size of the Council. As a member state of
Non-Aligned Movement, our preference is for enlargement of the Security
Council
up to 26. We favour the expansion of the membership of the Council in both
categories, permanent and non-permanent. In order to overcome the current
impasse on the question of permanent seats in the Security Council, a
compromise formula, acceptable to all parties, should be worked out through
enhanced consultations and discussions among the Member States. We are of the
view that in the event of other options having failed to command enough
supports the idea of rotating permanent seats should also be considered as one
of the options in the permanent membership category. 


Mr President, 

In the coming year, we are going to convene a landmark assembly--the
Millennium
Assembly and the Millennium Summit. It is crucially important that the
Millennium Assembly Summit should not be mere ceremonial events but should
come
up with concrete ideas and results. As it is clearly evident that the greatest
challenge facing mankind well into the next Millennium will be economic
development and poverty eradication for the vast majority of people in the
world, it is our view that particular attention should be given to these
issues. 


Mr President, 

Globalization can cut both positive and negative ways. It can bring us new
opportunities as well as additional problems. It is true that the process of
globalization can facilitate the economic development and enhance the living
standards of the people. But at the same time, it can make smaller and less
developed States vulnerable to the undesirable negative effects of this
process. One such problem, caused by the process of globalization is
transnational crimes, including illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, money
laundering, trafficking in persons, arms smuggling, piracy and terrorism.
These
crimes pose serious threats to the peace and stability of mankind at both
national and regional levels. The nature of this problem is such that it
requires national, regional and global responses. I am pleased to inform this
esteemed Assembly that in a bid to strengthen cooperation in the regional
grouping, Myanmar hosted the Second ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational
Crime in June this year. The meeting was a success, and it constituted a
significant step in advancing regional cooperation in combating this menace in
the South East Asia region. Let me also dwell on the fight against narcotic
drugs in Myanmar. My government is greatly concerned about the drug menace,
and
the fight against narcotic drugs is regarded as a national task and the top
priority. A master plan had been adopted to totally eradicate poppy
cultivation
within 15 years in cooperation with ethnic leaders who signed peace agreements
with the government. In accord with the Master Plan, many areas have been
declared Opium Free Zones and farmers are now turning to alternative crops.
Law
enforcement had been stepped up in the border areas resulting in increase
seizures of narcotic drugs. While we are quite successful in the
suppression of
opium and heroin production, though only scanty international assistance was
received, another tide of danger has emerged in the form of new synthetic
drugs
such as Methamphetamine. The new drugs were produced around our porous borders
with percussor chemicals such as Ephedrine, unavailable locally, and
drug-making equipment illegally smuggled in from neighbouring countries. We
are
redirecting our efforts to deal with the new problem with the cooperation of
the countries concerned. 


Mr. President 

Allow me to take this opportunity to apprise this August Assembly briefly of
the recent developments and trends taking place in my country.My government is
against neither democracy nor human rights. As a matter of fact, we are taking
necessary steps towards the establishment of a democratic nation.We have a
vision of establishing a modern, peaceful and development democratic state. In
order to bring this vision into reality, we are reconsolidating the national
unity as number one priority. Necessary foundation being laid for the
emergence
of a nation where a disciplined and multi-party democratic system fully
functions and justice, liberty and equality prevail. 

We fully subscribe to the human rights norms enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Here, I wish to underscore that the government
does not condone any violations of human rights, and the type of democracy we
envision will guarantee the protection and promotion of human rights,
particularly the rights to basic human needs such as clothing , food and
shelter. If there is an imperative need for improvement in areas of human
rights, we are willing and ready to receive sensible suggestion and take
whatever action we possibly could. For instance, in the middle of this
year, we
received a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and made detailed arrangements for them to visit the prisons in Myanmar as a
measure of confidence-building and to interview the inmates in accordance with
the ICRC standard procedures. As a result of the full cooperation we extended
to the ICRC delegation, those visit is were successful and productive,
enabling
both sides to build mutual trust and goodwill. I consider it pertinent to
state
here that ICRC delegation expressed their satisfaction with the overall
situation regarding the relationship between the prison authorities and the
inmates. 

Also in August of this year, Mr, Chris Sidoti, Australian Human Rights
Commissioner, visited Myanmar and held discussions with the authorities
concerned, including myself, on the possibility of establishing a national
human rights institution in Myanmar and exchanged views on cooperation between
the two countries on human rights matters. As a result of this visit, we were
able to identify certain areas of cooperation between the two countries. 


Mr. President 

In conformity with our consistent policy of establishing friendly and amicable
relations with all the countries of the world, we accepted the proposal for
the
visit of the Troika Mission of the European Union of Myanmar in July this
year.
The mission was a fact-finding one in nature, and both sides expressed their
satisfaction with the result. It is our hope that this mission will further
strengthen our relations with the European Union and pave the way for
enhancing
our contacts and dialogue with the EU to a more meaningful and substantive
stage in the future. Likewise, we would also like to seek better relations
with
the United States of America. Furthermore, I would like to confirm our
willingness to receive Mr de Soto, the Special Representative of United
Nations
Secretary-General, to visit my country in the near future. 


Mr President, 

Myanmar is a multi-ethnic society where many national races with different and
diverse cultural and social backgrounds are residing together. In addition,
primarily due to the divide and rule policy under colonial rule, the unity
among the national races deteriorated and as a result, armed insurrections
broke out all over the country. For these reasons, the present government came
to the conclusion the racial harmony was imperative and in the absence of
which
various issues will continue to hamper the national development endeavours.
This rationale led the government to make peace overtures with the armed
groups
and establish peace with them. 

In order to restore trust and confidence among the national races, the
government has even allowed the ethnic armed groups to hold on their arms
until
a democratic government is formally established in accordance with the new
constitution we are drafting now. This is a reflection of our trust in our
national brethren. At the same time the government has launched an ambitious
plan for the development of border areas and national races. Despite its
meager
financial resources, the government has spent over 15 billion Kyats on the
plan. At present, the national races are actively working together with the
government in their regional development efforts. This conscious and willing
involvement in the national development tasks as equal partners has nurtured
the Union spirit and sense of togetherness. With 17 armed groups in the legal
fold, peace is holding the entire length and breadth of the country. As far as
the question of national unity is concerned this is the first ever concrete
result achieved and unprecedented in number of armed groups involved the
extent
of peace established. This is a result we achieved through sincere, genuine
and
open dialogue between the government and ethnic armed groups where we first
built confidence and then conviced each other of our respective objectives.
The
government is open to such a dialogue with any remaining groups, including the
Karen National Union (KNU), where we could build confidence and identify
common
grounds in the sole interest of the country and its people. In this regard, I
with to reiterate that the government's offer of peace to the KNU still
stands.

As a matter of fact, the same dialogue is going on in the national convention
process where representatives of national races and political parties and
delegates representing all strata of life are actively involved in drafting a
new constitution to lay solid foundation for a new democratic political
system.
The national convention has been a successful process where we had agreed on
the basic principles that will govern the future life of the country and will
allow self-administered zones for certain national groups. At this
juncture, we
are in the painful and arduous process of building a consensus on
power-sharing, which is an extremely sensitive issue for all parties
concerned.
In view of the delicate nature of this sensitive question, it is vitally
important for us to proceed systematically and with the greatest caution
possible to safeguard the interests of all the national races and not to
repeat
the short comings of the previous two constitutions. We firmly believe that
there is no better alternative at all to the current national convention
process if we genuinely wish to transform the country into a peaceful, modern,
developed, and democratic state. It is therefore essential for us to complete
the national convention process. 
In this connection, it is our ardent hope that the international community
will
be supportive of our sincere efforts and appreciative of the positive
achievements we have made thus far for the development of the country. 


Mr President 

Myanmar is very often portrayed from outside as if vast violations of human
rights are taking place, forced labour is rampant, free flow of narcotics
exists and economic and social conditions are in chaos. These portrayals
are in
contradiction to the true situation. Let me cite here a very widely known
teaching of the Lord Buddha called "Kalama Sutta". The Sutta says; 
(Quote) Oh-Ye-Kalamas- 
-Do not be led by whatever you are told! 
-Do not be led by whatever has been handed down from the past generations! 
-Do not be led by hearsay or common opinion! 
-Do not be led by whatever the scriptures say! 
-Do not be led by mere logic! 
-Do not be led by mere deduction or inference! 
-Do not be led by considering outward appearance! 
-Do not be led by the theory reflected as an approval! 
-Do not be led by whatever believable one says! 
-Do not be led by what your teacher tells you it so! (Unquote) 

In short, Lord Buddha taught us to accept and practice only when we ourselves
directly know 
which is wrong and which is right. 

Everyone who visits Myanmar can see the greenness of the country, peace and
tranquillity prevailing throughout the nation, people leading their normal
daily lives with happiness pleasure, and building their nation with zest and
zeal. The people have full knowledge that they are on the right path to peace
and prosperity. I would like to invite all of you to come and see yourselves.
Seeing is believing! 


Mr President 

Our nation is still in the process of building, solid foundations being laid,
infrastructure being improved throughout the country. The government and the
people fully understand where we were, where we are now and in which direction
we are moving. We think of ourselves as builders, carpenters and plumbers
building a house not to enjoy ourselves but for the entire people who are
rightful owners. When the building is finished, furnished, and fine
touched, it
will be handed over to them. The people will decide who shall manage the
house.
There are some Myanmar youths that abandoned our land and took refuge
elsewhere. By taking this opportunity, I would like to send them a message
from
this podium that they are welcome with our open arms if they return home and I
would like to invite them to join us in building the nation. Our future lies
with us. If we work together, we will reach our goal sooner than later. 


Mr President 

Religious harmony and freedom is our shared tradition. Our previous two
constitutions provided for safe guards against religious discrimination and
religious intolerance. Similarly, the fundamental principles we have agreed on
in the national convention process guarantee religious non-discrimination and
religious tolerance. Although Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country with
nearly 90 percent of the population professing Buddhism, the government
attaches great importance to harmonious relations among the major religions
existing in the country. Accordingly, the government has taken all necessary
steps to encourage the prevailing harmony among the religions through
continuous contacts with the respective religious leadership and provision of
necessary assistance in both financial and material terms to enable them to
promote their faiths effectively. I want to state that there is freedom of
religion for all faiths in the country. It is also worth recalling here that a
few years ago, Madam Ogata, the High Commissioner for Refugees remarked in her
capacity as the Independent Expert of the Commission on Human Rights, to the
effect that Myanmar was a model society as far as religious tolerance was
concerned. Though made sometime in the past, I wish to stress that these
remarks remain valid and true at this point in time as well, and the
government
is determined to safeguard to the best of its ability all the religions of the
country against intolerance, and help them in all possible ways to co-exist
harmoniously with each other. 

Mr President 

It will not be complete without mentioning what any country is achieving on
economic front. Despite slowdown in economic growth due to Asian financial
crisis. Myanmar has enjoyed considerable economic growth in recent years. The
emphasis of the government is to promote private sector development and
privatization. At the same time, the government is focusing its endeavours on
infrastructure development as a precondition for sustained development.
Moreover, the government is carrying out an extensive programme of land
reclamation in wet and virgin lands by granting large land holding to the
private companies. The private sector has been able to reclaim and developed
1.1 million acres of fallow and wet lands for agricultural productions, which
will not only help domestic food supply but also will contribute to regional
food security. 


Mr President 

We have a vision for the new millennium, where we could build a society
peaceful, modern, developed and democratic. In order to realize our vision, we
will endeavour with whatever resources we have at our disposal. The
realization
of this goal could be accelerated if we receive the support of the
international community. We are optimistic that we will be able to achieve our
vision and that the international community will demonstrate understanding and
appreciation of our sincere efforts to uplift the economic and social
well-being of the people of Myanmar. 

I thank you, Mr President.