Bangladesh, 2003

I bring a message of

peace from Bangladesh.

Please allow me to congratulate the President on

his election. I wish him every success in the formidable

task of leading the United Nations to continued

relevance and credibility in these stormy times. I am

confident that he will build upon the legacy left by his

predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan.

We commend the Secretary-General for his

stewardship in these difficult times. The United

Nations has been faced with extremely challenging

situations over the past year. We have lost one of our

most outstanding men of peace —

Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello and many of his colleagues.

Such senseless and despicable acts must not be

repeated.

The new millennium, which we all heralded with

so much hope, has been plunged into turmoil.

Intervening events in the last three years have changed

our world forever. They have left us groping for

solutions. The events of 11 September 2001, the

Afghan and the Iraq war, the open confrontation

between Israel and Hamas and the African civil wars

shape some of the dimensions of this world of disorder.

Driving these crises are new realities — an all-out

offensive against terrorism, arguments for pre-emption

and unilateral action as an option for security, the

targeting of Islamic radicalism and its fall-out as

religious profiling. Somewhere, the coin of global

cooperation has been debased.

Each year we come to this Assembly to reaffirm

our faith in the United Nations and our commitment to

the purposes and principles of the Charter. Today, we

pause to grapple with doubts that have arisen about the

relevance of the world body. I hasten to add that for

Bangladesh, this pause is very short-lived. The cardinal

question is not what is wrong with the United Nations,

but what is right with it and how we can make it serve

our purposes despite seeming setbacks.

Three compelling factors stand out. The first is

universality. All 191 States of the world wish to be

within the fold of the international community. Second

is the flip side of globalization. The bottom line is that

no one State alone can deal with the intricate problems

facing our world — be it the dysfunction of the

collective security system, an interlocking economic,

monetary, financial and trade grid, the challenges of

globalization, international terrorism, environmental

degradation, new diseases, trans-border organized

crime, and so on. The conclusion is clear. The United

Nations is indispensable as the central organ for the

collective management of world affairs.

The third factor is legitimacy. As has been

underlined, the greatest strength of the United Nations

remains its legitimacy, founded on the bedrock

principles of international law. There is no substitute

for that legitimacy. It is by this measure that we look to

the United Nations.

But as the Secretary-General notes in his report

on the implementation of the Millennium Development

Goals, “The war exposed deep divisions in the

international community, with accusations of double

agendas”. He goes on to observe that “The war in Iraq

brought to the fore a host of questions of principle and

practice that challenge the United Nations and the

international community as a whole”. This is a sad

commentary on the state of the world body today.

In contrast, we have noted that wherever the

United Nations was allowed to take up its rightful role

and responsibility, and where it was provided with

necessary support, it has achieved success, durable

peace and stability. The experience of East Timor,

Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the

Congo, to name only a few, have vindicated the

legitimacy, role and relevance of the United Nations.

War can be won by military might; the challenge lies in

winning peace. That is what the United Nations, with

over half a century of experience in peacemaking,

peacekeeping and peace-building, is best placed to do.

We in Bangladesh place our full trust — and have

total confidence — in the capacity of the United

Nations to address matters of international and global

concern, including peace and security. We see the

United Nations as a source of inspiration, initiative and

support in our national, regional and international

endeavours. It is in this forum that we establish

common standards, universal values and shared

programmes. In a globalizing world, no nation is an

island; none can prosper alone. We therefore believe

that today, more than ever before, the Organization

deserves the support of all of our nations in a more

active and demonstrable way.

The Secretary-General deserves our appreciation

for bringing the focus of the Organization back to its

socio-economic agenda. We welcome his report on the

implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

His assessment of the progress in achieving the

Millennium Development Goals is sobering. While

signs of progress for a given region are noted, the road

to 2015 is long for many of our nations. The report of

the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the

Pacific and the United Nations Development

Programme concerning the Millennium Development

Goals, for instance, draws attention to the worrying

declines in the flow of official development assistance

to the least developed areas and countries; it described

that as “unacceptable and unconscionable”. The report

has also called for reforms in the international trade

system to help the poorest countries.

Against that backdrop, the setback at the World

Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, held at

Cancún, warrants an early resumption of the

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negotiations. A breakthrough will require courageous

decisions and significant compromises. Our

commitment to the Millennium Development Goals

also requires that the negotiations be concluded

successfully. The global economic situation today

dictates equitable trade policies and fair trade practices,

which were sought in the Doha round. The economic

survival and the socio-economic stability of many

nations depend on how we handle post-Cancun

challenges. The stakes are very high for all of us, in

both the short and the long term.

The development policies and programmes of our

Government, led by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh,

Begum Khaleda Zia, are based on the Millennium

Development Goals. Our resource allocation in the

social sector remains high, and we have prepared a

three-year economic growth, poverty reduction and

social development strategy. That is a major initial

policy framework. We look forward to working closely

together with our development partners in our

implementation of those policies.

The governance paradigm in recent decades has

happily embraced the fundamental tenets of democracy.

In Bangladesh, we have the necessary institutions in

place. We are reforming, modernizing and expanding

them. As a thriving democracy ourselves, we support

United Nations efforts aimed at promoting the rule of

law, good governance and human rights. We believe

that all human rights — including the right to

development — should be pursued in a comprehensive

manner and with a holistic approach.

The past year has seen serious developments in

the international peace and security situation,

especially in Africa and the Middle East. Bangladesh

has taken a positive and constructive approach to all

these issues. We have consistently supported the efforts

of the United Nations in that regard. We have done that

as a matter of our commitment to the purposes and

principles of the United Nations and its Charter.

In practical terms, Bangladesh has remained a

major partner of the United Nations in its peace and

security mission. Over the past two decades,

Bangladesh has participated in United Nations

peacekeeping operations in four continents, including

the most perilous ones. We are currently among the

largest contributors of troops and other personnel to

United Nations peacekeeping operations, with

thousands of our troops in eight Missions, in Côte

d’Ivoire, Western Sahara, the Democratic Republic of

the Congo, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Kosovo,

Timor-Leste and Georgia. Recently, we are also

committed to taking part in the proposed United

Nations mission in Liberia.

The people of Iraq have inherited a civilization

that is ancient and one of the most glorious. The

present situation in Iraq should be resolved while

preserving the interests of the people of Iraq and

ensuring long-term peace, security and stability in the

region. Bangladesh reiterates its support for the

sovereignty, territorial integrity and political

independence of the country. We stand ready to take

part in the reconstruction and rebuilding of Iraq in the

true spirit of brotherhood that characterizes the

relationship between our two nations and peoples. We

reiterate our call for ensuring a clear, effective and

credible role for the United Nations in Iraq’s transition

to democracy and in the country’s reconstruction.

Bangladesh supports the forthcoming international

conference on Iraq’s reconstruction to be convened by

the United Nations, and we look forward to a

successful outcome.

The recent developments in the Middle East are

extremely worrying. It is clear that the progress made

from Oslo to Madrid and the present is now seriously

threatened. The road map that the Palestinian side

accepted with great courage has not been seriously

accepted or implemented by the other side.

Preconditions have been imposed, making peace

difficult. The Israeli practices that are well known to

the Assembly continue to be applied in occupied

Palestine. There are gross and systematic violations of

international humanitarian law and fundamental human

rights. The vicious and criminal announcement of the

intention to expel and even assassinate President

Yasser Arafat calls for global condemnation in the

strongest possible terms. All of that runs counter to the

global demand for the peaceful settlement and

establishment of a Palestinian State to live as a good

neighbour in peace and security.

Bangladesh reiterates its support for the early

establishment of a sovereign, independent State of

Palestine in accordance with the relevant United

Nations resolutions. We call for a more active role on

the part of the United Nations, and we ask the Security

Council to assume its responsibilities towards the

people of Palestine. We urge the diplomatic Quartet to

intensify its efforts to prevent further escalation and to

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address the threats against President Arafat, a Nobel

Peace laureate and the undisputed leader of the

Palestinian people. We urge that the peace process be

placed back on track. We call for renewed efforts

aimed at a comprehensive solution of the Middle East

issues within a given time frame.

International terrorism remains a scourge. In the

post-11 September 2001 context, it has taken centre

stage in our global concerns. We reiterate our

unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms

and manifestations. Bangladesh is party to several

international conventions on combating terrorism, and

we are in the process of acceding to the remaining

ones. We are actively involved in the elaboration of an

additional protocol to the South Asian Association for

Regional Cooperation’s Regional Convention on

Suppression of Terrorism. The protocol will strengthen

the Convention by incorporating provisions that

include those contained in recent Security Council

resolutions, in particular resolution 1373 (2001).

Bangladesh attaches great emphasis on disarmament.

We believe that it is closely related to international

peace and security and has a direct relationship with

development. Bangladesh is party to all international

disarmament treaties covering nuclear, biological,

chemical and conventional weapons. Seeking general

and complete disarmament is our constitutional

commitment. International peace and security, human

security and the security of our planet have been the

prime considerations in making our policy choices.

We have supported all efforts at disarmament. We

continue to believe in the value of all measures, even

partial efforts at arms control and disarmament. Our

conviction has been vindicated by our progress in the

control and ban of a number of weapons. The

multilateral track, including the Conference on

Disarmament, needs to be revived.

Bangladesh has renounced all weapons of mass

destruction — biological, chemical and nuclear. The

situation along the borders of the two nuclear-armed

South Asian countries has been a matter of global

concern. As a close neighbour, we too have a

legitimate cause for concern. In this context, we

applaud the Secretary-General for his recent call for the

elimination of all nuclear weapons. The imperatives, in

view also of the threats to the existing regimes and

their implications, do not require elaboration in this

House. We would thus urge a renewed consideration of

the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion and the

report of the Canberra Commission on the Elimination

of Nuclear Weapons.

In our region, as elsewhere, particularly since we

are challenged by abject poverty, hunger, illiteracy,

lack of safe drinking water and disease, our priorities

should be socio-economic development, not

nuclearization. We need to foster cooperation, not

prepare for confrontation.

It is with this thought that our late

President Shaheed Ziaur Rahman conceived of

institutionalized regional cooperation leading to the

emergence of the South Asian Association for Regional

Cooperation (SAARC). We firmly believe in the value

and indeed the imperative of cooperation in our region.

We hope that together we shall also be able to establish

a peaceful, friendly and prosperous South Asia. We

would draw inspiration from other parts of the world

where such regional economic integration has worked

well for the people of those regions.

In today’s world, perhaps the most potential

sources of conflict of interest within countries and

among them would centre on natural resources, in

particular, fresh water. We call for management of

shared resources without depriving or causing damage

to the economy or ecology of any of the countries

concerned or the region.

For example, any unilateral withdrawal of water

from international rivers should be prohibited, as such

action would cause great damage to the environment,

agriculture, industry and the overall economy and

ecology of other countries. All actions in such areas

should conform to international law and the norms of

equity, justice and, of course, fair play. Any decision

with regard to shared natural wealth should be through

consultation among all concerned countries.

Bangladesh identifies itself closely with the

problems of Africa. We believe in the efficacy of

South-South cooperation as a mutually beneficial

practice among societies at comparable stages of

development. The launching of the African Union has

been inspiring and that of the New Partnership for

Africa’s Development (NEPAD), encouraging. We are

confident that the leadership of Africa and its people

will succeed in transforming the continent into a

peaceful and prosperous one.

We have developed greater knowledge, special

bonds and closer friendship with many African nations

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through our participation in their democracy and

nation-building efforts and through peacekeeping and

development activities. Bangladesh will continue to

work together with them in addressing the challenges

of building durable peace and sustainable development.

The specific problems facing the landlocked and

small island developing countries require special

attention. We hope the Almaty Conference has created

a fresh impetus to address their needs. We must also

accord support to countries that are in the process of

transition in their economies.

The 1990s have seen a series of major United

Nations conferences. Each has adopted an elaborate

implementable programme of action with clear and

specific responsibilities at national, regional and

international levels. The International Conference on

Financing for Development, held in Monterrey,

Mexico, the World Summit on Sustainable

Development, held at Johannesburg, and the Third

United Nations Conference on the Least Developed

Countries, which met in Brussels, have reinforced the

earlier commitments. Now is the time to focus our

efforts — individual and collective — to implementing

the programmes of action emanating from those

Conferences.

The United Nations has, in recent years made

significant progress in reforming itself in

organizational and substantive terms. Further progress

remains to be achieved in various areas, including the

Security Council, where reforms are essential to make

the Council more representative, democratic and

effective.

Also in need for further reform are the General

Assembly and other major organs, including the

Trusteeship Council, which could be revived. We need

certainly to go further. Bangladesh welcomes the

proposal of the Secretary-General to establish a high-

level panel of eminent persons for examining the

challenges to peace and security. We look forward to

their report. In this regard, we would underline the

importance of preserving multilateralism and

consensus.

Decisions on budget cuts must not compromise

the functioning of the Organization and budgetary

exercises must not adversely affect the interests of the

developing countries, in particular the least developed

ones. There should be adequate provision for mandated

activities in the developing countries.

It will remain our goal to bring the United

Nations to the centre of global development efforts.

The Economic and Social Council can play a crucial

role in this regard. It must examine innovative and

creative methods in its work. Bangladesh has sought

election to the Economic and Social Council during the

current session. As we have done in the past,

Bangladesh seeks to contribute, as a member of the

Council, to the pursuit of the United Nations social and

economic agenda. We hope we shall receive valuable

support from all Members of the Assembly.

The Millennium Development Goals set a number

of achievable targets in the most pressing areas.

Bangladesh is committed to achieving them for our

people. We shall also work closely with all other

nations so that these objectives are realized equally for

all of us. But we aspire to go beyond. We urge

continued focus on the implementation of the outcome

of the 1990s cycle of international conferences. They

represent a comprehensive agenda for humanity for our

century. We must follow up on them for our present

and future generations and for the progress of

humankind. Let us all try to create a better world for all

generations.