Myanmar, 2009

I

would like to extend our warm congratulations to

Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on his well-deserved election

as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth

session. I would also like to pay a special tribute to

Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann for his able leadership

of the sixty-third session of the General Assembly.

The global financial and economic crisis that

began last year is showing tentative signs of abating.

However, many countries large and small still face

daunting challenges. The crisis originated in the

developed countries, but the developing countries have

been the hardest hit. The nascent economic recovery

has yet to begin to lift the low-income countries from

the trough.

It is commendable that the developed countries

have played a leading role in addressing the crisis. The

views of the developing countries should also be taken

into consideration, together with those of the members

of the Group of Eight and the Group of Twenty.

Measures that could have adverse effects on the

economic growth of developing countries must be

avoided. The developing countries have worked long

and hard to combat poverty and achieve favourable

conditions for economic growth. Low-income countries

require development aid beyond existing pledges of

official development assistance (ODA) if they are to

meet the challenges posed by the global economic

downturn. The developed countries should increase

their ODA to the developing countries. We welcome

the reaffirmation by President Hu Jintao of the

People’s Republic of China in his statement to this

Assembly that his country will increase support for

other developing countries hard hit by the economic

and financial crisis.

Climate change is the most pressing major threat

facing our planet. It is a global challenge that requires

a global response. No country can be insulated from

the consequences of climate change. The rapid pace

and scale of climate change requires the global

community to respond immediately and effectively.

The United Nations Summit on Climate Change

convened by the Secretary-General last week

9 09-52598

underlined the magnitude of the problem and the need

to redouble our efforts in addressing climate change.

We look forward to the Climate Change

Conference in Copenhagen in December. We hope that

the negotiations will be fruitful and result in a new

agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions, to go into

effect in 2012 when the Kyoto Protocol’s first

commitment period expires. To be effective, any deal

must be comprehensive and consistent with the

principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

The global financial and economic crisis and the

climate change crisis have compounded the problems

we have faced in recent years. These include rising

food prices, high energy prices and the spread of

pandemic diseases. No single country can effectively

overcome these problems alone. The global community

must work together to meet its common challenges. In

these trying times for our planet, multilateralism is

more important than ever. Dialogue among nations of

different religious and cultural backgrounds can

contribute to international peace, security and

development.

The United Nations is the single world

Organization dedicated to peace and development that

enjoys almost universal participation. In recent years,

steps have been initiated to reform the Organization in

order to make it more democratic, effective and

accountable and enable it to meet the challenges of the

twenty-first century. Regrettably, progress has been

painfully slow.

If the United Nations is to make decisions in a

more democratic manner, it is essential that the role of

the General Assembly — in which all Member States

are represented — be enhanced. Security Council

reform is also important. For many years, the General

Assembly has debated the matter but made little

headway. In addition to the focus on the vexed issue of

enlarging the Council, we would like to see

constructive changes in its procedures and working

methods, particularly those that would make it more

transparent and accountable.

The continued existence of weapons of mass

destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, poses the

greatest threat to mankind. Myanmar believes that the

total elimination of nuclear weapons is the sole

absolute guarantee against the threat or use of those

weapons. Accordingly, we have called on nuclear-

weapon States to undertake a step-by-step attenuation

of the nuclear threat with a view to achieving the total

elimination of those weapons.

We believe that, pending the total elimination of

nuclear weapons, we should pursue efforts towards the

conclusion of a universal, unconditional and legally

binding instrument on security assurances to

non-nuclear-weapon States. We support the

establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the

basis of arrangements freely arrived at among States of

the regions concerned. Nuclear-weapon-free zones

enhance global and regional security and contribute to

reaching the objectives of nuclear disarmament.

It is our hope that all nations of the world will

continue to work together to eliminate nuclear weapons

so that the power of the atom can be harnessed

exclusively as a tool for the benefit of mankind and not

as an instrument of self-destruction. At the same time,

every nation has the right to the peaceful use of nuclear

energy. Nuclear technologies have widespread

applications in such areas as food, agriculture, health

care, industry and science. We welcome last week’s

summit meeting of the Security Council on nuclear

non-proliferation and disarmament and its reaffirmation

that the international nuclear non-proliferation regime

should be maintained and strengthened to ensure the

effective implementation of the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Some powerful nations have resorted to economic

sanctions to pressure developing countries. Their aim

is to influence the political and economic systems of

those countries without taking into account those

countries’ historical and cultural backgrounds.

Sanctions have no moral basis, as they not only hinder

the economic and social development of peoples, but

also interfere in matters that are essentially within the

domestic jurisdiction of the country concerned. As

sanctions are indiscriminate and a form of violence

per se, they cannot legitimately be regarded as a tool to

promote human rights and democracy.

Sanctions are being employed as a political tool

against Myanmar and we consider them unjust. I would

like to state that such acts must cease. Myanmar

practises a market economy based on agriculture. We

are self-sufficient in terms of food and able to

contribute to food security in the region. We have made

considerable progress in improving socio-economic

conditions thanks to the combined efforts of the

Government and the people. Without the economic

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sanctions imposed on us, progress would be even

greater.

Following Cyclone Nargis, which hit Myanmar in

May 2008, the Myanmar Government, the United

Nations and the Association of Southeast Nations

established the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) to

undertake relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in

the affected areas. The success of the TCG has been

duly recognized by the international community and

acknowledged as an exemplary mechanism for future

disaster relief and rehabilitation.

The Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan

(PONREPP) has been established for the period 2009

to 2011. Further plans have also been adopted to

effectively respond to similar natural disasters in the

future. We will implement the projects diligently.

PONREPP will require $691 million over a period of

three years. To date, only half of that amount has been

pledged by the international community. We have

carried out many rehabilitation activities relying on our

own funds and resources. If more funds were

forthcoming and donors fulfilled their pledges, the

rehabilitation process would be speedier and more

effective.

The Myanmar Government and the people of the

affected areas will always be grateful to the

individuals, organizations and the international

community at large that came to our assistance in our

hour of need.

Domestic peace and stability and the successful

holding of democratic elections are essential to the

democratization process in Myanmar. A new State

Constitution was approved by 92.48 per cent of eligible

voters in a nationwide referendum held in May 2008.

Multiparty general elections will be held in the coming

year. Subsequently, Parliament will be convened and a

Government formed in accordance with the new

Constitution.

The country will have a bicameral legislature.

The Constitution provides for a presidential system of

governance. It is envisaged that the President will be

elected by a presidential electoral college. The State

will be composed of seven states, seven regions, five

self-administered zones, and one self-administered

division. The capital, Nay Pyi Taw, will be designated

union territory. In keeping with the State structure, the

Constitution also establishes 14 State and regional

legislative bodies.

The transition to democracy is proceeding. Our

focus is not on the narrow interests of individuals,

organizations or parties, but on the larger interests of

the entire nation. We have urged all citizens, whether

they agree with us or not, to participate actively in the

process without losing sight of the democratic goal. In

this way, the aspirations of the people will be fulfilled.

The President returned to the Chair.

The Government is taking systematic steps to

hold free and fair elections. Electoral laws will be

promulgated and an election commission created so

that political parties can be formed and contest the

elections. On 17 September 2009, 7,114 prisoners were

released for good conduct. They, too, will be able to

participate in the general elections next year in

accordance with the law.

The holding of a multiparty general election is a

significant step in our transition to a peaceful, modern

and developed democratic State. Democracy cannot be

imposed from the outside, and a system suitable for

Myanmar can be born only out of Myanmar society. It

is the citizens of Myanmar who can best determine

their own future. They can judge the merits of

democracy and make adjustments as they see fit. The

international community can best assist Myanmar’s

emergence as a new nation, based on the principles of

justice, freedom and equality enshrined in the new

State Constitution, by demonstrating understanding.

Global issues that require the attention of all

countries will increasingly come to the fore in the

years to come. Firm political will and commitment of

all countries will be needed to overcome the

challenges. Previous speakers have emphasized the

need for collective efforts to find solutions to those

problems and challenges. I fully share their views and

affirm that Myanmar will do its part.