Brunei, 1995

As

we will soon be commemorating half a century of United

Nations work, may I start by presenting warm fiftieth-

anniversary greetings from Brunei Darussalam to all our

fellow Members.

Also, before commenting on our present situation, I

would like to take this brief opportunity to thank two

groups of people who do not receive much publicity and

who I hope will not be overlooked in the general

celebration.

First, I think it would be most appropriate at this

time to mention those who have served this Organization

in the field as representatives of our various agencies or

as part of our peace-keeping operations and special

missions. Their work has always been at the heart of

United Nations efforts. It has given people throughout the

world a chance to look ahead with hope, and we wish all

who are engaged in this work much continued success.

At the same time, I would like to look outside our

Organization and thank our hosts. Here I am referring to

the people of New York and all the other cities around

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the world who for 50 years have accepted the demanding

responsibility of being a United Nations venue. Their

support and good will have been crucial, and I would like

to say how much we appreciate this.

With that, may I now turn to current business and

offer the President my congratulations on his election. I am

sure he will guide us well during what we hope will be a

most successful year.

I would also like to thank the outgoing President, His

Excellency Mr. Amara Essy, for his contribution to our

work over the past year and to convey my best wishes to

the Secretary-General and his staff.

Given all the recent changes which have taken place

in world affairs, our fiftieth anniversary comes at a critical

period. I would therefore like to offer a few thoughts on the

approach we in Brunei Darussalam would like to see the

United Nations taking in the future.

Fifty years ago, at the first session of the General

Assembly, President Truman’s opening address described

the purpose of the United Nations as being

“to provide the means for maintaining international

peace in the future”. (Official Records of the General

Assembly, First Session, Plenary Meetings, 34th

meeting, p. 682)

The approach the United Nations took at that time was

successful. It certainly stopped great Powers from making

war on each other in Europe. However, it also led to the

cold war. This is now over, but it seems to have left behind

a situation in which there is great potential for instability in

the rest of the world.

Much of this, of course, is the result of the changes

which have taken place in 50 years. The centres of power

have moved, and the danger spots have shifted. We all

depend on each other a lot more for peace, security and

development. The changes are so profound that many of us

feel they may call for an equally profound reform of this

Organization.

Brunei Darussalam is a fairly new Member, but we

tend to think there is a strong case for this. We believe the

United Nations has to adapt to change. We also hope this

can be done soon. The future could hold some very serious

problems, and they will require a United Nations which is

well prepared to handle them.

The very worrying signs of what could lie ahead are

already quite clear. There are humanitarian problems on

a vast scale. We face social and environmental issues

which affect the whole world. There is instability in world

financial affairs. Trade disputes disrupt the peaceful

conduct of international commerce. There is also what we

believe is the most serious concern of all: the

development gap between the North and the South is

growing wider and wider.

This all means that the United Nations has an

extremely challenging agenda as it starts out on the next

50 years of its existence. An international situation now

exists in which it is essential that we recognize the stake

each of us has in the welfare of all the others. We all

have to reaffirm our commitment to working very closely

together as United Nations Members.

So perhaps the most encouraging feature of

international affairs today is that in every part of the

world countries are trying very hard indeed to respond to

this new challenge. I also think it is fair to say that

whatever can be done by individual countries or regional

association is being attempted.

Having said that, however, I must add that there is

one thing we cannot do: no country or regional group on

its own can make the whole world stable and peaceful.

For this, we rely on the United Nations. It is the only

mechanism which can deal with the basic causes of

instability. Therefore, I would like to suggest that this is

the most important responsibility of the United Nations

today. If it is to carry it out successfully, however, I also

suggest that there are a number of useful lessons to be

learned from recent experiences.

The first of these arises from the crisis faced by the

Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1991.

Certainly, we are pleased to see welcome signs of hope

in that country.

However, I think it will be very difficult for most of

us to forget how badly United Nations personnel have

been treated. Nor do we wish ever again to experience the

frustration we have felt over our representatives’ inability

to implement Security Council resolutions.

The Bosnian tragedy has obviously raised a great

number of questions. But, above all, I feel, we have been

taught one extremely important thing: if the United

Nations is to be involved in a future situation like this, its

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representatives must be given all the resources they need,

so that they can carry out their tasks effectively.

A second lesson can be drawn, from the Middle East.

We are still hopeful that the peace process there will reach

a just and comprehensive conclusion. However, what has

been shown in Palestine is what was also evident in

Cambodia: peace negotiations and even peace treaties

require more than just formal recognition by the

international community; practical assistance from us all is

needed if the result is to be lasting peace.

The third recent lesson I see for us lies in recognizing

to the full that the end of the cold war has made us aware

of many other aspects of security which lie deeper than just

military defence.

Next year, we hope that a comprehensive test ban

treaty will be in effect. Among other things, it would be a

most appropriate way to acknowledge the reminders we

have had this year of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But it

should also mean that everyone accepts that it is

unthinkable for nuclear weapons ever to be used again. The

ultimate aim now is the abolition of all such weapons. If

this is indeed accepted, then the idea of nuclear weapons as

a deterrent cannot be logically sustained; nor can the need

to continue testing such weapons.

Instead, the logic of the post cold war period applies

and leads us to the more modern concept of security. In

other words, we should be doing everything we can to take

advantage of the peace dividend and work together to solve

the great environmental, social and economic challenges we

all face.

There is one more lesson I believe this early post cold

war period has taught us. It is perhaps the most urgent of

all. This is that the increasing gap between the North and

the South in terms of development and the possibility of

making progress must be closed.

The Secretary-General has suggested an important

shift in emphasis for the United Nations — from politics to

global economic development. I think the Secretary-General

is quite right. It is essential that the United Nations move

in this direction. Peace-keeping, though much valued, is a

costly, short-term response to global peace. The longer-term

solution is widespread economic development. What we do

ask, however, is that this be done urgently as time is not on

the side of developing nations.

We naturally cannot predict what form the United

Nations will take in the next half century of its existence.

One thing, however, is beyond question, I feel: the world

is even more than ever in need of the moral force of

United Nations principles to guide it.

May I assure you, Mr. President, that in its efforts to

remain strong and effective and credible, the United

Nations has the lasting support and commitment of the

Government and the people of Brunei Darussalam.