Iran, 1997

Allow

me to express my felicitations to the President on his

election and express the confidence that, with his wisdom

and diplomatic skill, he will ably guide the fifty-second

General Assembly towards tangible results. Let me also

express my appreciation to his predecessor for his excellent

work.

Due to lateness of the hour, I will present a brief

version of my statement. The complete text will be

distributed.

At the threshold of the third millennium and under the

circumstances of unfolding interplay among not one or two

but various powers in the shaping of new global decisions,

international relations need a new doctrine, commensurate

with the evolving conditions and emerging needs. The main

objective of this doctrine is the gradual realization of a

global civil society, a society where liberty and salvation

harmoniously coincide to meet the spiritual and material

needs of humanity in an institutionalized manner, and

where comprehensive, balanced and sustainable

development lies at the foundation of universal

cooperation and participation.

The doctrine of global civil society is predicated on

two major principles, the first being the

institutionalization of the rule of law in domestic and

international relations. The international community today,

like its constituent Member States, simply cannot provide

a peaceful and prosperous life for people through

coercion, autocratic decisions and a cultural domination

and hegemony. Therefore, the rule of law, as the very

foundation of order and the relations among individuals

and States, should be institutionalized.

The second major principle is that of empowerment

and participation. Similar to the process of participation

at the national level — where all individuals, regardless

of colour, race, opinion, wealth or social status have an

inalienable right to determine their own destiny —

countries and regions with differing cultures and resources

should enjoy the right and be empowered to participate at

all stages of decision-making and policy implementation

at the global scale.

Today, North and South constitute two

complementary domains in a single global arena.

Equilibrium and stability of the future world order

depend, in large measure, on the South’s contribution to

the shaping of the norms governing future international

relations.

In our view, we can move towards the gradual

realization of a global civil society through

institutionalization of these two fundamental principles

and by committing ourselves to pluralism, tolerance,

dialogue among civilizations, promotion of human rights,

comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development,

justice and equality of opportunities as the governing

norms in our interactions.

The political philosophy of the Islamic Republic of

Iran is in full accord with these fundamental foundations

of the prospective global civil society. The domestic

programme of the new administration is geared towards

strengthening the foundations of civil society.

The main features and priorities of the new

administration’s foreign policy include the following: the

expansion of relations with all countries on the basis of

mutual respect, common interest and non-interference in

the internal affairs of others; emphasis on the

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institutionalization of international law as the foundation of

global order and as the final arbiter among States; the

establishment and strengthening of mechanisms of mutual

confidence-building and security through regional

cooperation and the negation of the presence and influence

of foreign powers; the protection of all human rights and

the rejection of attempts at selective and discriminatory

abuse of human rights as instruments of policy; emphasis

on the fundamental rights of oppressed individuals and

nations, particularly the Palestinian people; the arresting of

the arms race at the regional and global levels, the

elimination of weapons of mass destruction and the control

of conventional weapons; the strengthening of the bonds of

amity and solidarity among Islamic and non-aligned

countries; an active presence and constructive participation

in the United Nations and other international organizations,

with an effective contribution in international efforts on

global issues such as arms control and disarmament,

comprehensive and sustainable development, human rights,

peacekeeping and combating terrorism and illicit drugs, as

well as the reversal of unjust international arrangements;

and, finally, defending the rights of Iranian citizens all over

the world.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has adopted concrete

measures at the regional and international levels in pursuit

of these principled policies, and it is fully prepared to

cooperate with all countries towards achieving common

objectives in accordance with the principles of the United

Nations Charter.

The question of Palestine, which lies at the very heart

of the Middle East crisis, represents the most vivid and

persistent case of disregard for international law and the

systematic violation of fundamental human rights of

individuals and peoples. The Middle East crisis can be

solved only through the full realization of the rights of the

Palestinian people, in particular their right to self-

determination, the return of refugees and the liberation of

all occupied territories, including Al-Quds al-Sharif,

southern Lebanon and the Syrian Golan. The experience of

the past few years has made it abundantly clear that any

scheme or proposal which fails to take into full account the

realities in the region or the infamous Israeli patterns of

behaviour is bound to fail.

It is indeed unfortunate that some outside powers

deliberately misconstrue or misrepresent Iran’s frank, open

and objective exposé of the realities as support for terrorism

and as opposition to peace and security in the region. I

reiterate once again that the Islamic Republic of Iran also

seeks peace and stability in the Middle East — a just and

lasting peace that would receive regional consensus and

that would cure this chronic crisis once and for all.

Our region has witnessed for nearly two decades the

crisis in Afghanistan. There is, undoubtedly, no military

solution to this tragedy; yet some warring factions have

yet to realize this evident truth. Only through the

establishment of a ceasefire, the cessation of foreign

intervention, negotiations between all Afghan groups and

the formation of a broad-based Government representing

all Afghans can the crisis in Afghanistan find a lasting

solution. My Government is determined to continue its

humanitarian and peacemaking endeavours in Afghanistan

in tandem with the United Nations Secretary-General and

the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic

Conference. I must draw the attention of the international

community to the dire need for and the urgency of

humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

The cold war generated a tendency in internal and

external relations which required the existence of a real or

imagined enemy. Escaping this state of mind and building

a new world based on cooperation and the rule of law

requires not only political will, but careful planning in

order to foster confidence and to mitigate economic,

security and social concerns at national and regional

levels.

Confidence-building at national, regional and

international levels, as an essential strategy to transform

human relations, will not succeed in the absence of

transparency in decision-making and the participation of

all concerned. The antithesis of universal participation in

decision-making and law-based cooperation at the

international level is unilateralism. This phenomenon finds

its manifestations in various areas, including arms control,

development, international trade, the environment and

codification of new human rights norms.

The first and most effective step towards building

confidence is the elimination of weapons of mass

destruction, the reduction of conventional weapons,

transparency in the field of armaments and the

establishment of security and cooperation schemes in

various regions of the globe. This endeavour requires the

full and non-discriminatory implementation of existing

undertakings in the area of disarmament and security and

the development of new rules to address universally

accepted priorities, as well as security requirements of the

international community and its members.

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The Islamic Republic of Iran, on the basis of Islamic

principles, considers weapons of mass destruction inhumane

and illegitimate. Officials of the International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA) have repeatedly confirmed the fact

that Iran’s nuclear activities are performed within the

framework of the Agency’s regulations and that they follow

peaceful objectives. Despite these clear facts, some

Governments have embarked upon a barrage of false and

baseless accusations against Iran during the past few years.

Yet propaganda campaigns of public deception will

certainly not change regional realities on the ground. It is

self-evident that the lack of security in the Middle East is

rooted in Israel’s militarism and its arsenal of weapons of

mass destruction, which have thwarted all disarmament

initiatives and mechanisms in the region.

Furthermore, the unabated race for the acquisition of

conventional weapons exacerbates the atmosphere of

anxiety and mistrust. The foreign policy of the Islamic

Republic of Iran is founded on peace, self-restraint,

confidence-building and the reduction and elimination of

tension, particularly within our region. I wish to inform the

Assembly frankly and sincerely that of all the countries of

the Middle East, Iran allocates the lowest percentage of its

budget to its military. In 1995 and 1996, only 3.3 per cent

of our gross domestic product was spent on defence. We

continue to be ready for any regionally acceptable

understanding on further reductions in defence budgets such

that the security concerns of large and small countries alike

are fully addressed.

The highest foreign policy priority of the Islamic

Republic of Iran is to make every effort to strengthen trust

and confidence and to build peace in our immediate

neighbourhood, which in cases such as Tajikistan has

achieved encouraging results. In our region, the Economic

Cooperation Organization has also contributed to the

expansion and consolidation of relations among its member

States through the adoption of common positions and by

playing an active role in the field of economic and technical

cooperation.

In the Persian Gulf area, only cooperation and

collective participation can bring about security and stability

for all countries in the region. Taking full advantage of

historical affinities, cultural ties and religious bonds and

sparing no effort to utilize in an efficient and coordinated

manner the human and natural potential and resources of

the region constitute the single best long-term guarantee of

security and tranquillity. Iran — as the biggest country in

the region, enjoying a historical depth of several millennia

combined with the richness of Islamic civilization — does

not need to engage in any arms build-up or competition.

Our message to our neighbours is one of friendship and

fraternity, and we shall warmly welcome any initiative to

strengthen the foundations of confidence and cooperation

in the region.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, which in December

will be hosting the eighth Islamic summit, is of the view

that on the threshold of the twenty-first century, the

primary task of the summit will be to foster mutual

confidence and establish mechanisms for cooperation and

coordination in various fields among Islamic countries.

This will undoubtedly contribute to the further

strengthening of the foundations of lasting international

security and stability.

Terrorism is the wicked result of widespread

lawlessness and the violent obstruction of public

participation, which in its various forms and

manifestations threatens human societies at the national,

regional and international levels. The political exploitation

of this international problem, through hurling unfounded

allegations in order to advance certain ulterior motives or

cover up deficiencies in domestic or external policy, is no

less dangerous than terrorism itself. These two elements

together diminish trust, stability and security at the

regional and the international levels.

Resolution of this destructive problem requires a

determined avoidance of sensationalism and demagoguery

on the one hand, and a concerted international attempt to

find practical measures to combat terrorism that are

reasonable, objective and realistic on the other. More

important, our collective success requires the non-

selective, universal and law-based application of agreed

measures by relevant international organizations.

As a country that has suffered immensely from the

inhuman phenomenon of terrorism in the post-revolution

years, the Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to take an

active part in any international effort to combat this

problem in a serious, comprehensive and principled

manner.

The resolution of complex international problems

and the realization of post-cold-war opportunities require

the participation of all members of the international

community in the decision-making process, on the basis

of the rules and principles of international law. The

United Nations is the institutional embodiment of both

universal participation and the rule of law on the global

scale. It is the only universal organization which, with the

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help of an efficient and capable system, can move towards

finding solutions to the problems of human society and

responding to post-cold-war challenges. The magnitude of

this task clearly points to the need to improve the efficiency

of the Organization and to enhance its role by embarking

on the transformation and reform of the major bodies,

programmes and modes of operation of the Organization.

I should like to express appreciation for the Secretary-

General’s efforts to reinvigorate the Organization, and to

assure him of our earnest desire to cooperate with him in

the process of restructuring the United Nations into a more

efficient, capable and reliable institution responsive to the

needs and views of all its Members. In our opinion, the

extensive scope and implications of the measures envisaged

in the Secretary-General’s report of 16 July make it

imperative for the General Assembly to establish working

groups to examine the report thoroughly and in detail so

that the views of all Member States are identified and

taken into account.

There is no doubt that the current composition of the

Security Council is remote from the state of international

affairs today and is not acceptable to the overwhelming

majority of the international community. In our opinion,

any increase in the membership of the Security Council

or reform of its working methods will have to take the

true role and concerns of the developing countries into

account. Moreover, reform of the working methods of the

Security Council should not be contingent upon resolution

of the question of the increase in the membership of the

Council; they are two distinct subjects and thus require

two separate decisions.

The General Assembly is undoubtedly the highest

and most representative organ of the United Nations,

where all Members of the Organization enjoy an equal

right to participate. This body, which comprises the entire

membership, certainly has the right — and indeed the

responsibility — to address each and every issue of global

concern, including in particular those relating to

international peace and security.

Expansion and broadening of the participatory base

of the future global order on the basis of norms

acceptable to all cultures and peoples is most conducive

to building a better tomorrow, and to ensuring freedom,

security, stability and sustainable development at the

national, regional and international levels. The General

Assembly, providing all Member States with the

opportunity for full and equal participation in decision-

making, is the most appropriate venue for dialogue,

understanding and the adoption of coordinated

international measures to build a better and a more

equitable tomorrow.

As the new Government of the Islamic Republic of

Iran assumes its responsibilities, I reiterate the willingness

and full preparedness of my Government to take a

constructive part in this collective endeavour through

promoting dialogue, understanding, trust and solidarity.