Egypt, 2001

Allow me to read the statement that was to be delivered

by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Arab

Republic of Egypt, Mr. Ahmed Maher El Sayed, who,

unfortunately, was unable to come to New York to

participate in this important debate.

“It gives me pleasure to express through

you, Sir, to the friendly people of Korea, my most

sincere congratulations on the confidence

bestowed by the General Assembly upon

President Han Seung-soo in his election as

President of the current session. I would like to

assure him of our full cooperation in ensuring the

success of our work. With my personal

knowledge of his abilities, experience and skills, I

am fully confident that our efforts will be

crowned with success through the activation of

the Charter and the strengthening of its

contribution to the building of a better world.

“We gather here under extremely sensitive

circumstances born from injustice and violence.

We must face them resolutely and boldly so as

not to allow the forces of evil to overcome our

aspirations, which cause us to gather here every

year. Among the circumstances which I would

like to highlight here today is, first, the continued

denial of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian

people, including their right to the establishment

of their independent State on the territories

occupied since June 1967, including East

Jerusalem. The second circumstance I wish to

mention is the harrowing events that took place in

the United States as a result of criminal terrorist

acts that took a heavy toll in innocent lives.

Thirdly, peoples continue to suffer from violence,

poverty, underdevelopment and injustice. We are

duty-bound to stand united against these

phenomena, because the oppression of one people

is the oppression of all peoples, the killing of one

soul is the same as killing the entire world, a

child who goes to bed hungry spells hunger for

the whole world and the demolition of a single

home condemns the whole of humanity to sleep

in the wilderness, deprived of the shelter of

legitimacy and law.

“The events of 11 September in the United

States were not the beginning of terrorism. We

have been suffering from terrorism for many

years. We stood alone in combating it and

overcoming the obstacles placed by some,

deliberately or unwittingly, in the path of our

struggle, until it was vanquished. The tragic

events of 11 September have brought the whole

question into the sharp focus of international

concern. This fact was reflected in a resolute

international consensus to deal not only with the

manifestations of terrorism but also with its root

causes.

“There is a consensus to address terrorism

within the framework of international law, as

represented by this great Organization, through

the use of a whole range of actions. These include

legislation, laws, security measures and the

dissemination of enlightened thought. There must

also be a constant search for justice, truth and

development. For the battle against terrorism to

be successful, it must extend to all aspects of life,

including the political, economic, social, cultural

and security aspects.

“A search for the root causes is not a

justification, rather, a diagnosis. A disease cannot

be cured by dealing with the symptoms alone;

there must, rather, be a thorough analysis and a

thorough investigation of the germs that spew

venom in human hearts, souls and bodies.

Discovering the pathogen opens the path for

effective treatment.

“No germ is more lethal to the future of

humanity than that of poverty. We look forward

to the forthcoming United Nations International

Conference on Financing for Development to be

held in Mexico; we hope that it will result in a

new international consensus on an international

economic framework serving the interests of all

States, developed and developing alike. We also

hope that it will create a new spirit of

constructive partnership among all members of

the international community. This partnership

should seek to eliminate the imbalances of

globalization, to maximize the opportunity for all

to benefit from it and to achieve prosperity and

political and economic stability.

“In this context, I would like to highlight

the new initiative adopted by the African leaders

at their recent summit in Lusaka to combat

poverty and build a brighter future for the peoples

of the continent — namely, the New Partnership

for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). This

initiative reflects a clear vision of the spirit of our

times and a recognition by the peoples of Africa

38

of the reality that they bear the primary

responsibility for determining their future and for

eliminating the political, social and economic

obstacles standing before them. We look forward

to the international community providing the

necessary backing and support for this

constructive collective action in order to ensure a

successful outcome to the efforts aimed at the

development, stability and prosperity in Africa.

“At the same time, it is important to prevent

the spread of another disease: the so-called clash

of civilizations and religions, which could

undermine all of the progress made by humanity

so far towards constructive interaction and

coexistence. Therefore, we call for the convening

of an international conference to lay the

foundation for cooperation among all States

against terrorism. The conference should define

the obligations of States, from which there can be

no deviation. It should chart the path towards the

complete elimination of this scourge. It is

anathema to the right of all peoples to live in an

atmosphere of security, equality and justice that

enables all to build the edifices of prosperity and

progress.

“We also call for a genuine dialogue among

civilizations that would turn diversity into a

constructive force for mutual enrichment and

deep enlightenment. Such dialogue should allow

us all to avoid surrendering to the forces of

barbarism, which wish to fabricate a clash or a

conflict where there is none. There is but one

single, unified march towards a better world.

Differences will not disappear in that better

world; what will disappear are the rejection,

humiliation and persecution of others on the

grounds of religion, race or gender.

“That is the true sense of globalization that

we must uphold. It must be an expression of

interdependence among the peoples and countries

of the world and of the exchange of human and

social experience and economic and technological

potential. Globalization means dealing with the

changing world in a spirit of understanding that

does not attempt to impose or control — a spirit

that does not claim absolute distinction or attempt

to impose hegemony under any pretext. With this

spirit, an all-encompassing democracy will

emerge in international life. All States, big and

small, will make their contribution to global

advancement through their implementation of the

principles adopted by the world after painful

experience of war and disasters.

“This leads me to address a worrisome

phenomenon that has grown stronger since the

tragic events of 11 September: the attempt to

associate the charges of terrorism and

backwardness with Islam and the resultant

persecution of Arabs and Muslims. This attempt

can spring only from ignorance and blind

prejudice. Islam is a religion based on truth,

justice and respect for human rights, particularly

the right to life and to be free from poverty,

ignorance and disease. In Islam, people have the

duty to interact with others through fair means,

understanding and mutual respect.

“I commend those Governments, including

the United States Government, that have taken

measures to put an end to such heinous practices,

which recall the dark ages. Nevertheless, we all

need to do much more to reveal the truth and to

dispel the darkness of ignorance and arrogance.

All must know that human progress and

knowledge are a river that has flowed ceaselessly

since the dawn of history. Every civilization has

been both a beneficiary and a tributary of the

achievements of other cultures. The Arab Islamic,

Christian and pharaonic civilizations have all

made contributions that remain with us to this

very day. Without those contributions, the world

would not have been able to reach its current

level of progress. Had it not been for those

contributions, the backward forces of darkness

would never have been reined in.

“I stand before this Assembly at the end of

the first year of the third millennium, fully 10

years after the Madrid Conference which

reaffirmed the basis for a settlement in the Middle

East, and yet the Arab-Israeli conflict and the

question of Palestine at its core still await a just

and comprehensive settlement. That is truly hard

to believe.

“It is most regrettable that the Syrian and

Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and parts

of the territory of Lebanon continue to languish

under the heavy yoke of Israeli occupation. That

occupation continues to give rise to injustice,

39

destruction, frustration and anger. Israel continues

to refuse to comply with the terms of

international legitimacy. It continues to defy the

will of the world. This unjust situation takes us

directly back to the dark ages which the United

Nations was established to end, and creates

suffering and agony for a people whose only

crime is to demand their rights. It also creates an

unhealthy climate exploited by those who wish to

fish in troubled waters in order to propagate

darkness, misery, chaos and pain.

“The international and regional situations,

in addition to the humanitarian and legal

requirements and interests of all peoples, can no

longer tolerate the continued occupation,

usurpation and settlement by Israel of the

territories of others. They can no longer brook an

army of hateful occupation using the most

sophisticated and lethal weapons to brutalize

unarmed civilians, demolish their homes and

uproot their trees. All these actions are

undertaken under a false pretext that disguises the

fact that this army is only defending the

occupation of the land of another people — the

people of Palestine.

“Similarly, the international situation can no

longer bear the declaration by an occupying

Power that it will not return the land it has seized

and that, if it should return any, it will do so

under unfair conditions. Equally untenable is its

position that peace can only mean its hegemony

and control in one form or another. The

announcement by a Government of its official

decision to resort to a policy of targeted killings

is also unacceptable.

“Like all nations and peoples, Israel must

understand that the world has changed. It must

realize that it is in its own interest to comply with

the international will. The only guarantee for the

security of Israel and of the whole region is for

Israel to put an end to its occupation, policies and

practices and to coexist with the peoples of the

region on the basis of equality, understanding and

respect for international legality and the

resolutions of the United Nations. Security cannot

be achieved with continued occupation. Peace is

incompatible with the doctrines of hegemony and

superiority. Free cooperation alone can ensure

prosperity for all.

“Sometimes I feel that, while the Arabs

have accepted Israel’s existence among them,

Israel has not yet accepted the existence of a

Palestinian people in the land of their ancestors,

with the right to live in a sovereign, independent

State with Arab Jerusalem as its capital. No Arab,

Muslim or Christian can abandon their holy sites

in Jerusalem. Those sites are constantly

threatened by attempts to desecrate or destroy

them by Israeli extremists, with the support of

those ostensibly less extreme.

“A political settlement of the question of

Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict,

requires the following.

“First, Israel must demonstrate its clear will

to abandon its continued occupation of Arab

lands as an alleged means to maintain its security.

Israel needs to understand that its position in the

Middle East will not improve in any real sense

until it evinces the resolve to return to the borders

of 4 June 1967.

“Secondly, Israel must realize that any

peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine

requires the return of East Jerusalem to

Palestinian sovereignty. Failure to understand this

fact will always be an obstacle to all peaceful

efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

“Thirdly, any political or security

arrangements for the settlement of the Palestinian

question must lead to the establishment of a

viable Palestinian State exercising sovereignty

over its land, water and airspace. There must be a

just settlement, based on United Nations

resolutions and the norms of justice and

legitimacy, of the oldest refugee problem in

modern history, namely, that of Palestinian

refugees.

“Fourthly, Egypt does not accept a situation

in which Israel remains the sole nuclear Power in

the Middle East. The Middle East must be a zone

free from weapons of mass destruction. The

countries of the world, particularly the five

nuclear-weapon States, must shoulder their

responsibilities under international nuclear non-

proliferation instruments.

“When such conditions prevail and are

supported forcefully and decisively by the

40

world’s nations — including the friends of

Israel — because they are just and right, then the

painful chapters of this long-lasting conflict can

finally be closed. Only then will it be possible to

raise new generations living in peace and

tolerance instead of living in the frustration,

violence and hatred that are born of illegal, unjust

occupation.

“I cannot fail to refer to the central and

important role of the United States of America in

assisting the parties to reach a final and just

settlement. Egypt looks with satisfaction to the

resumption of the active role of the United States.

In this regard, Egypt also welcomes the role of

the European Union, the Russian Federation and

the indispensable role of the United Nations in

the establishment of a just, lasting and

comprehensive peace in our region. Egypt will

continue to play its role in support of the

brotherly Palestinian people and on the side of

justice, right and legitimacy.

“Our part of the world, located in the area

from West Asia to the southern shores of the

Mediterranean, requires peace in order to achieve

the objective of social, economic and political

development. To that end, a just settlement must

be achieved quickly. Undoubtedly, the whole

international community will support such a

settlement, which will also require the

presentation of a major and integrated economic

programme that would provide the economic

capabilities for unleashing the creative potential

of the region, opening the door to constructive

cooperation among all its peoples and nations,

and helping it to overcome the tragedies it has

lived through for more than a century.

“Perhaps time does not allow us to address

all the problems facing the world. Suffice it for

me to reaffirm that Egypt will always eagerly

continue its efforts to uphold the noble principles

that the Charter of this great Organization

enshrines in a manner that serves the purposes

and principles of all peoples. We assure the

Assembly that we will continue our effective

participation and enhance our active contribution

to any collective action that guarantees to the

United Nations the capacities and tools it needs to

enable it to undertake the great responsibilities

with which we the Member States have charged

it, as well as to confront the multiple challenges

imposed by the changing nature of our world.”