Mongolia, 1992

Allow me at the outset to convey to you. Sir, my

delegation's sincere congratulations on your unanimous election to the high

post of President of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session.

We are indebted to Ambassador Samir Shihabi of Saudi Arabia, whose

skilful and indomitable leadership contributed a great deal to the success of

the last session of the General Assembly.

I extend congratulations and best wishes to the representatives of the

new States Members of the United Nations: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of

Moldova, San Marino, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Mongolia commends Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for his dynamic

performance. He has assumed the responsibilities of his post at a time when

the Organization is regaining its effectiveness, and the objective of its

democratization and restructuring becomes increasingly topical. I wish you

success, Mr. Secretary-General, in your endeavours.

I feel honoured and privilieged to address this Assembly of nations

today, at a time of renewed hope in the world Organization and recommitment to

the underlying purposes and principles of its Charter. I have come to this

session of the General Assembly to tell the world community about Mongolia's

domestic and external policies and its approaches to current international

issues and to express Mongolia's full support for the principles and

activities of the United Nations.

As the wheel of history turns, mankind finds itself on the threshold of

the third millennium. The century that started with a fierce struggle waged

by the workers' movement and was two brutal world wars, a powerful movement

for independence and dramatic scientific and technological breakthroughs is

culminating now with a new wave of human rights, freedom and democracy.

Over the past several decades the world was divided into two antagonisitc

camps that grew into two powerful, confrontational alliances, but now it has

witnessed the end of the cold war. One could hardly find a country in the

world that had not been drawn into this truly global face-off.

By indulging in ideological hostilities and a reckless arms race, mankind

brought itself to the brink of self-destruction and wasted vast resources,

many opportunities and much time, thereby hampering world economic development

and social progress and damaging the environment. On the other hand, the

colonial system collapsed and many Asian, African and Latin American countries

gained independence and strengthened their positions in the international

arena. Mankind has reached into outer space and started taming nuclear

energy. The positive and negative effects of all this have been reflected in

the activities of the United Nations, the mirror of world tendencies and

international relations.

The East-West cold war came to an end as a direct result of the increased

interpendence of nations, the interrelationship between the political.

economic and humanitarian spheres, the bankruptcy of confrontational policies

and the arms race, the changes in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

and the emergence of new thinking. Thus the 1980s and 1990s mark, in my view,

the beginning of a transitional period shaping a new world order. At this

very juncture, with the disintegration of the bipolar world and the creation

of a multipolar one, we are called upon to determine the principles that will

govern our lives and our forms of cooperation in the next century.

It is vitally important to establish a new and just world order and to

strengthen the ethical and legal bases for guaranteeing the fundamental

principles of inter-State relations.

Mongolia believes that the United Nations should be the focal point of

the develoment and coordination of these processes. We therefore fully share

and support the conclusions reached to that effect at the recent Stockholm

Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. In this context, the year 1992

could be described as a year that has strengthened these positive trends.

The first ever summit meeting of the Unted Nations Security Council was

held this year, demonstrating the growing prestige and increasing role of the

United Nations. Mongolia fully supports the ideas and many specific proposals

concerning preventive diplomacy and ways and means of building confidence,

contained in the report of the Secretary General "An Agenda for Peace"

prepared as a follow-up to the aforementioned Security Council summit

meeting. The report outlines some concrete proposals on the prevention of

disputes and conflicts, on increasing the role of the United Nations in

peacemaking, peace-keeping and post-conflict peace-building, as well as on the

mechanism of ensuring the security of medium-sized and small States by

political means. The importance of these proposals was most vividly

demonstrated by the Persian Gulf crisis and its lessons. Today the strong

cannot defy with impunity the will of the weak. Mongolia is of the view that

the main lesson of this conflict is that the world community proved its

determination no longer to tolerate actions in violation of the provisions of

the Charter of the United Nations.

Pluralism and democracy, advancing in every part of the world, penetrate

the very fabric of international relations and open up broad prospects for

dialogue and cooperation. Progress has been made towards settling some

regional conflicts peacefully and freeing the world from weapons of mass

destruction.

In this connection, I would like to note with appreciation such important

events as the finalization, through consensus, of the draft Convention on the

Prohibition and Elimination of Chemical Weapons; the agreement between the

Presidents of the United States and the Russian Federation on the reduction of

the two countries' strategic nuclear weapons by the year 2003, far over and

beyond the limits stipulated in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START);

and the accession of the People's Republic of China and of France to the

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We also commend the

near-nuclear countries for commencing efforts to contribute to disarmament.

We would hope to see all other States in possession of nuclear weapons join

the nuclear disarmament talks.

In a nutshell, although it is too early today to give an exhaustive

definition of the new world order, some of its principal features are already

at the stage of maturing.

However, these changes, which have brought about prospects of a new era

in international relations, fail to prevent new outbreaks of tension that

jeopardize world peace and security. The new hotbeds of conflicts are being

caused by inequality, ethnic and religious strife and other complex issues of

long standing. As an example of this, I would refer to the crisis in the

former Yugoslavia, which is deeply troubling the world community these days.

Mongolia deeply regrets the bloodshed taking place between the nations that

used to share one home, and supports the efforts undertaken by the United

Nations, as well as such a regional organization as the European Community, in

order to resolve the crisis. We hope that the decisions reached at the London

Conference will yield positive results.

Mongolia holds the view that it is possible to solve the Yugoslav crisis

peacefully in the manner in which the Cambodian issue is now being settled.

In this connection, we would like to compliment the permanent members of the

United Nations Security Council, the Secretary-General and influential

countries of the region that are taking an active part in the settlement of

the Cambodian problem.

A special feature of today's international relations is the need

appropriately to combine the national interests of a country with those of the

world community. From this point of view, the United Nations activities

depend on the situation in and the policies of its Member States. Therefore,

allow me briefly to describe the state of affairs in Mongolia, one of the

Members of the United Nations, its foreign policy and security interests.

The history book of Mongols consists of diverse and unique chapters: the

rise and fall of the Great Empire; over 200 years under colonial rule; 70

years of Communist experiment. Today, at the turn of the century, we, the

Mongols, have embarked on the road to join the mainstream of civilization.

Over the two-odd years since Mongolia has irrevocably embraced democratic

reforms, it has managed basically to dismantle the old social system. We

support pluralism through the policies and practical activities of the State.

As a result, many political parties have emerged and the conditions for

democracy's steady march onward are being created.

Our State structure, which was formed following the first free elections

of 1990, laid down the foundations for democratic movement, took the initial

steps towards a market economy and promulgated the new Constitution legally

guaranteeing the continuity of democratic reforms. Last June the second

elections were held, resulting in the formation of new State and government

institutions and in the formulation of the next stage of the transitional

period. This has become yet another guarantee of the irreversibility of our

movement towards democracy and a market economy.

However, a general assessment of this past period speaks of a multitude

of problems, both objective and subjective in nature, in resolving political/

social and economic issues of the current period.

The country lacks financial resources. And, as a result, such serious

problems as the inadequate supply of food and consumer goods to the

population, and raw materials, equipment and spare parts for industry, beset

us. The country suffers from acute shortages of housing, medicine and other

vital needs.

The underdeveloped economic infrastructure and the lopsided pattern of

foreign economic relations aggravate our problems. All this leads to the

slump in production, to inflation and a decline in living standards.

Like other developing countries, we are not in a position to cope with

these vicissitudes on our own. Donor countries and international

organizations have shown appreciation of our commitment to democratic reforms

and the enormity of our problems by rendering support and assistance essential

to us. I take this opportunity to express, on behalf of the Mongolian people,

our sincere gratitude to the Governments and people of the United States,

Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Federal Republic of Germany, the

Netherlands, Denmark, the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation

and others, as well as to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the

Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme for their

kind cooperation.

Mongolia, in its relations with other countries, has always upheld such

universal principles of international relations as mutual respect for

independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in each

other's internal affairs, and will continue to do so in the future.

Our foreign policy has undergone a radical change over the past two years

since we committed ourselves to the development of democracy and market

relations, to guaranteeing human rights and fundamental freedoms. Our foreign

policy has been freed from the ideological bias that had prevailed for decades.

For Mongolia, which is situated between two of the permanent members of

the United Nations Security Council, relations with its immediate neighbours

have always been and will remain a fundamental factor in its foreign policy.

Mongolia stands for the development of balanced relations with those two

countries. We are currently reshaping our relations with them to meet the

requirements of genuine equality and mutual benefit and the new realities of

international politics. The withdrawal of Russian troops, in line with the

agreement reached by the two Governments in the wake of the improving climate

for regional understanding and cooperation, is being completed. This is in

full accordance with our new concept of national security.

In order to contribute to disarmament and trust in the region and

world-wide, Mongolia declares its territory a nuclear-weapon-free zone. We

shall work towards having this status internationally guaranteed.

With the disintegration of the former Soviet Union into new independent

States and the incorporation of these into the international community.

Central Asia is once again emerging as a separate geopolitical entity. We

believe that this vast land area, strategically located as a bridge between

Europe and Asia, should be reflected in the regional representational

structure of the United Nations and the land-locked position of its countries

duly taken into account.

I should like to take this opportunity to emphasize that we are against

turning Central Asia into a nuclear testing ground. The Mongolian Government

has repeatedly emphasized the possibility of developing a dialogue on a

regular basis among the States of North-East Asia, an area that is home to

more than one-third of the world's population and has a host of military and

political, trade and economic, ecological and other pressing problems to deal

with. The current climate in this subregion offers a favourable opportunity

to realize such ideas and initiatives. At this point, I should like to note

with appreciation the recent establishment of diplomatic relations between the

People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea.

Other important features of our time are the increasing political and

economic interdependence of nations and the intensification of regional

integration processes. It should be noted that in the Asia-Pacific region, in

spite of the ethnic, religious and cultural diversity as well as the disparity

in the levels of economic and social development, such institutions as the

Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference (PECC) and Asia-Pacific Economic

Cooperation (APEC) have come into being to facilitate the processes mentioned

earlier.

We believe that these forums could be broadened in terms of their

membership with a view to securing the widest possible representation.

Mongolia's intention is to develop trade and economic relations with the

countries of the region on the basis of mutual benefit and to

participate actively in the international division of labour that is taking

shape here.

Last year, Mongolia joined the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries as a

full-fledged member. We understand this Movement to be, inter alia, an

important political factor in the protection of the independence and security

of small States.

The contribution of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, embracing

almost two thirds of the United Nations membership, is highly important in

enabling the United Nations to effectively address the tasks that face it.

The recent 10th Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned

Countries, held in Jakarta, has reiterated its readiness to cooperate with the

United Nations in building a new world order based on law, equality and

justice. We are of the view that this Summit has been crucial in responding

to certain assertions and allaying certain doubts concerning the Movement's

alleged loss of relevance and viability in evolving its principles and

objectives in line with the new realities and in mapping out the Movement's

strategies. In our view, it has also given an impetus to the expansion of

South-South cooperation.

With the cold-war era at an end, a propitious opportunity is now at hand

for the United Nations to work unhindered towards the attainment of its

objectives. The activities of the United Nations during the past two years

provide a convincing example.

Although the political climate on our planet is rapidly changing for the

better, the same cannot be said, unfortunately, of international economic

relations. We are concerned about the lack of noticeable progress in tackling

the pressing issues of the world economy, especially those related to the

development of developing countries and their indebtedness. Mongolia,

therefore, believes that enhancing the United Nations role in developmental

efforts should constitute a major component in the restructuring of the

Organization.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio

de Janeiro, eloquently testifies to the inextricable link between environment

and sustainable development. What is now required is to launch multilateral

concerted action to implement the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21.

At that United Nations Conference my country proposed the establishment

of an international network of ecological pattern countries and the inclusion

of the territory of Mongolia in it as a special zone under international

protection. In doing so, we proceeded from our understanding that the

preservation of Mongolia's largely unspoiled natural environment is part and

parcel of global, and particularly Central Asian, ecological concerns. Our

country is open to international cooperation in the implementation of

research, protection and restoration programmes. We hope that the Member

States of the United Nations will support our proposal and promote its

realization.

I should like to point out the imperative need to develop and strengthen

the legal basis of inter-State relations, accelerate the codification of

international law and increase the competence of the International Court of

Justice, for the sake of asserting a new international order the world over.

In conclusion, I should like to express my confidence that this session

the United Nations General Assembly will successfully complete its

deliberations.