Myanmar, 2007

At the outset, I would like

to congratulate the President on his assumption of the

high office of President of the General Assembly at its

sixty-second session. I would also like to convey

Myanmar’s appreciation to his predecessor, Her

Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, for her

able stewardship of the previous session. The annual

report of the Secretary-General reflects the significant

work done in the past year by the United Nations in

meeting the challenges we face. We congratulate

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his successful first

year in office and welcome his timely initiative with

regard to such pressing global issues as climate change.

The High-level Event on Climate Change has reignited

the international community’s interest in climate

change, and rightly so. Climate change remains the

most critical challenge that the international

community faces today. The adverse effects of climate

change, such as sea-level rise, hurricanes, floods,

drought and desertification, particularly in recent

years, are a stark reminder of the negative impact that

climate change has on the long-term economic and

social development of the global community,

particularly the developing countries.

To address the adverse impacts of climate change,

we need concerted action at the national, regional and

international levels. We need to be mindful that climate

change is not merely an environmental issue, but also a

sustainable development issue. Accordingly, an

integrated and coordinated approach is required. For its

part, Myanmar is pursuing a national environmental

policy based on the sustainable utilization of natural

resources. In 1991, we adopted the Myanmar Agenda

21, which serves as an important guideline for both the

public and private sectors.

Myanmar also pursues a system of sustainable

forest management. We have implemented a

nationwide programme of afforestation and

reforestation. As a result, we have been able to retain a

forest cover of 50 per cent in the country. Myanmar

was among the 12 nations that took part in the Asia

Least-cost Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy in

cooperation with the Asian Development Bank. The

inventory of greenhouse gas emissions taken under the

Strategy confirms that Myanmar is more of a sink than

a source of carbon dioxide emissions. The baseline

projection of the 2020 national greenhouse inventory

also shows that the forestry sector will continue to be a

significant sink in Myanmar in the future.

The economic activities undertaken by developed

countries, both historically and currently, are mainly

responsible for the emissions of greenhouse gases that

affect the global climate system. The developing

countries, which are least responsible for contributing

to climate change, face the greatest risk from its

adverse impacts. Addressing the challenge of climate

change requires an integrated approach to economic

growth, social development and environmental

protection. Concerted action must be taken within the

framework of the internationally agreed United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change and its

Kyoto Protocol, based on the principle of common but

differentiated responsibilities. It will require developed

countries to provide new and additional financial

resources to developing countries and to fulfil the

commitments made at various international

conferences.

The impact of climate change is particularly felt

in developing countries and has adversely affected

national development prospects. In order to effectively

meet the challenge of climate change, we would also

have to address poverty alleviation; then and only then

would the developing countries be able to achieve

internationally agreed development goals, including

the Millennium Development Goals. It is, therefore,

incumbent on the developed countries, whose

development process rely heavily on the natural

resource acquired from the developing countries, to

provide the necessary financial resource.

Underdevelopment and mass deprivations lead to

economic, political and social hardships in developing

countries. Development provides an environment

conducive to democracy. I would like to call upon the

entire international community to work together for

poverty alleviation.

The scourge of terrorism knows no boundaries.

Combating terrorism is the common endeavour of the

entire international community. I would like to stress

here that terrorism in any form or manifestation must

be rejected. It is the innocent people who bear the

brunt of terrorist activities. To combat terrorism

effectively, we also must address its root causes.

Poverty, grievances and underlying political, economic

and social conditions provide fertile ground for the

spread of terrorism. These root causes of terrorism

must be addressed.

Friendly relations among nations should be based

on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-

determination. Countries should show goodwill,

practice tolerance and live together in peace and

harmony. Nations have various historical backgrounds,

differing cultures, and different religions and customs.

Nations are not identical. However, respecting those

basic principles and practicing friendship and goodwill

will effectively contribute to our common endeavour to

combat terrorism.

Today, the world is facing diverse problems and

daunting challenges. The United Nations, which

represents the world community, is called upon to

resolve them. Our Organization was formed in order to

maintain international peace and security, develop

friendly relations among nations and promote

cooperation in solving international problems of an

economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character. In

order to effectively address the full range of

challenges, the reform of the United Nations, as called

for by our leaders in the World Summit Outcome, must

be successfully implemented.

I am confident, Mr. President, that under your

able leadership we will make significant progress in

the United Nations reform process, taking into

consideration the position of the vast majority of the

membership.

We are greatly disturbed to witness

neocolonialism rearing its ugly head in recent years.

The strategies employed are obvious. As a first step,

the neocolonialists conduct media campaigns against

the targeted country and spread disinformation that the

country concerned is committing gross human rights

violations. They portray these campaigns as a fight for

democracy. Secondly, they impose sanctions, which

hinder economic development and cause poverty

among the people. Here I would like to stress that

economic sanctions are counterproductive and can only

delay the path to democracy. As a third step, they

provide political, financial and other material support

in order to create unrest in the country. Finally, under

the pretext that a country is undemocratic and unstable

and that it poses a threat to international peace and

security, they intervene directly and invade the country.

Current events clearly show that such a course of

action can only result in conflict and untold suffering

for the people of the country.

My country is currently subjected to such courses

of action. The international community should also be

wary of those neocolonialist attempts. Here it must be

stressed that the destiny of each and every country can

only be determined by its Government and its own

people. It cannot be imposed from outside. On our part,

we are determined to proceed resolutely towards

democracy along our chosen path.

In the life of every nation, there are times when it

must face challenging situations and overcome them.

Myanmar has gone through such a challenge recently.

The situation would not have deteriorated, if the initial

protest of a small group of activists against the rise in

fuel prices had not been exploited by political

opportunists. They sought to turn the situation into a

political showdown, aided and abetted by certain

powerful countries. They also took advantage of

protests staged initially by a small group of Buddhist

clergy demanding an apology for the maltreatment of

monks by local authorities. The security personnel

exercised the utmost restraint and did not intervene for

nearly a month. However, when the mob became

unruly and provocative, they were compelled to declare

a curfew. Subsequently, when protestors ignored their

warnings, they had to take action to restore the

situation. Normalcy has now returned to Myanmar.

The rule of law is a fundamental principle

accepted by nations. Without it there can be neither the

orderly conduct of the day-to-day affairs of State nor

the enjoyment of human rights and democracy by the

people.

Myanmar is a multi-ethnic and multireligious

society. It is home to over 100 national races who have

lived together in weal or woe over the centuries.

National unity is of paramount importance to us. We

have, therefore, been striving to strengthen the fabric

of our nation. In keeping with the aspirations of the

people for democratization, a seven-step road map was

declared, and a national convention was held to lay

down the principles for a new constitution. Work was

concluded on 3 September 2007, adopting by

consensus the fundamental principles for the new

constitution. Based on these principles, a draft

constitution will be drawn up by legal experts. All the

remaining steps will be implemented phase by phase.

This process is applauded by the people. To date,

people in 11 townships have convened rallies in

support of the successful conclusion of the national

convention. Townships all over the country are

expected to hold similar rallies.

Recent events make clear that there are elements

within and outside the country that wish to de-rail the

ongoing process so that they can take advantage of the

chaos that would follow. They have become more and

more emboldened and have stepped up their campaign

to confront the Government.

The Myanmar Government is fully aware of its

responsibility to lead the nation in the process of

transformation to a disciplined democracy. We have

laid out a road map and will work conscientiously to

achieve our goals. Significant progress has already

been made. The process can be successfully completed,

sooner rather than later, if no obstacles are placed in

our path. In this regard, the international community

can best help Myanmar by showing greater

understanding. They can begin by refraining from

measures which would result in adding fuel to the fire.

One area where the international community can

demonstrate good faith and objectivity is to

acknowledge the good work done in Myanmar in

combating the scourge of narcotic drugs. As a result of

our efforts to rid our country of those drugs by the year

2014, the production of opium has plummeted to

unprecedented levels. In the World Drug Report 2006,

the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported

that in 2005 the total area under opium poppy

cultivation showed a decrease of 26 per cent when

compared to that of 2004. The World Drug Report 2007

confirms that in 2006 the total area under opium poppy

cultivation was approximately 21,500 hectares,

representing a decrease of 34 per cent compared to

2005. Here, I would like to stress that in terms of

opium production, the decline is 88 per cent over a

span of eight years, declining from 2,560 tons to an

estimated 292 tons.

Myanmar regards the eradication of narcotic

drugs as a national priority. We have enhanced our

enforcement capacity and have been providing

alternative livelihoods to farmers to encourage them to

end their dependence on opium poppy cultivation. We

are also taking effective measures with regard to the

emerging threat posed by methamphetamine-type

stimulant drugs. Myanmar neither produces nor

imports the precursor chemicals required for the

production of those drugs.

Cooperation with the United Nations is a

cornerstone of Myanmar’s foreign policy. It is in this

spirit that we continue to cooperate with the Secretary-

General with regard to his good offices role mandated

by the General Assembly. We have agreed to the visit

of his Special Adviser, Under-Secretary-General

Ibrahim Gambari, who is presently in my country. We

will continue to work closely and cooperate actively

with the United Nations.