Myanmar, 2003

Allow me, at the outset, to

extend my warm felicitations to you, Sir, on your

assumption of the presidency of the fifty-eighth session

of the General Assembly. Your vast experience and

diplomatic skills augur well for the success of our

deliberations. I would also like to express our gratitude

and appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan,

for his invaluable contribution to the success of the

previous session of the General Assembly. We also pay

tribute to the Secretary-General for his tireless efforts

in leading the Organization through challenging times.

We are meeting at a time when the world is facing

daunting challenges. In addition to the perennial

problems of extreme poverty, the spread of infectious

diseases such as HIV/AIDS and environmental

degradation, we are faced with the challenge posed by

new forms of terrorism. We must confront all those

challenges squarely if we are to fulfil the vision of

global prosperity and collective security set out in the

Declaration of the Millennium Summit, three years

ago.

The United Nations has a vital role to play in

ensuring peace and security. Myanmar firmly believes

that the Organization must be revitalized to accomplish

our objectives. We cannot overcome the complex

problems that beset our world without universal

commitment to multilateralism and a reaffirmation of

faith in the central role of the United Nations in the

promotion of global peace and security. The

importance of multilateralism and the need for

countries to strictly abide by the principles of

international law cannot be overemphasized. Indeed,

Member States, both large and small, have an interest

and a responsibility to uphold the Charter of the United

Nations.

More than ever before, our world needs greater

international solidarity and cooperation. In that respect,

we welcome the intention of the Secretary-General to

reform the United Nations into a more effective

Organization.

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My delegation also shares the Secretary-General's

concern that the pre-emptive use of force could set

precedents that could result in a proliferation of the

unilateral and lawless use of force, with or without

justification.

Recent attacks by terrorists in Baghdad, Bali,

Casablanca, Jakarta, Jerusalem, Mumbai and other

places serve to remind us of the grim fact that the fight

against terrorism is not over. It is evident that the use

of force alone cannot wipe out terrorism. If we wish to

achieve enduring results, we must address such

fundamental problems as the persistence of extreme

poverty, the disparity of income between and within

countries, racial and religious prejudice and attempts

by some countries to impose their values on small and

developing countries.

Terrorism poses a common threat to humankind.

It respects neither borders nor religion nor race. All

nations must therefore join hands to meet the challenge

posed by terrorists. It is only through increased

cooperation at the national, regional and international

levels that we can hope to overcome that menace. I

wish to reiterate that Myanmar is against all forms of

terrorism. We have had bitter experiences with

terrorism in our own country and we are firmly

committed to work with the international community to

prevent, counter and eliminate that terrible scourge of

humankind.

Last month, terrorists brought their war to the

doorsteps of our Organization when they attacked the

United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. They took the

lives of 22 people, including that of Mr. Sergio Vieira

de Mello, one of the most outstanding international

civil servants. We join the rest of the world in paying

tribute to his memory and profess our profound sadness

over the loss of the life of the Special Representative,

and of other lives, in that unwarranted attack.

I would now like to turn to recent political

developments in my country. Some have accused us of

deliberately creating a political impasse in order to

delay the transfer of power. If one takes a close and

objective look at the situation in the country, one will

see that what needs to be done to effect a smooth

transition to democracy is, first and foremost, to have

the political will to do so. Let me assure the General

Assembly that we have that political will. We are

firmly committed to bringing about a systematic

transformation to democracy. In the past, successive

Governments in Myanmar failed in their attempts to

build a multiparty democratic system, because they

were unable to overcome the fundamental issues facing

the nation, namely, the issues of peace and stability,

national unity among all national races which

number more than 100 economic development and

human resources development. Attempts were made

without first solving those fundamental problems; the

country drifted and the people suffered.

The present Government, aware of the fact that

fundamental issues must first be addressed, adopted a

different approach. It laid down four political

objectives: first, to establish peace and stability in the

whole nation and to ensure the prevalence of law and

order; secondly, to consolidate unity among all national

races; thirdly, to strive for a durable Constitution; and,

fourthly, to build a modern and democratic nation in

keeping with the new Constitution.

At the outset, an olive branch was extended to the

armed groups that had been fighting the Government

for decades. Following successful negotiations, those

groups returned to the legal fold. National unity was

achieved. Peace now reigns in the entire country,

providing an opportunity for long-neglected border

areas to develop quickly. The gap between urban and

rural areas has been narrowed. At the same time, we

have taken developmental initiatives to promote a

better life for our peoples. We have worked tirelessly to

provide better health care, education and housing for

all our peoples. We have had to rebuild the country

from scratch.

Those who come to Myanmar will be able to

observe at first hand the immense transformations

taking place in the country. As the adage goes, seeing

is believing. Today our people can look forward to the

future with confidence and renewed hope. Now that

firm foundations have been laid, we have moved on to

the next phase to commence work on the drafting of a

new Constitution and to build a modern democratic

nation in keeping with it.

The new Prime Minister, General Khin Nyunt,

who was appointed on 25 August 2003, outlined a road

map for the transition to democracy. The seven-step

programme includes, first, the reconvening of the

National Convention, which has been adjourned since

1996; secondly, after the successful holding of the

National Convention, the step-by-step implementation

of the process necessary for the emergence of a

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genuine and disciplined democratic system; thirdly, the

drafting of a new Constitution in accordance with basic

principles and the detailed basic principles to be laid

down by the National Convention; fourthly, the

adoption of the Constitution through a national

referendum; fifthly, the holding of free and fair

elections for pyithu hluttaws, or legislative bodies,

according to the new Constitution; sixthly, the

convening of hluttaws attended by hluttaw members in

accordance with the new Constitution; and, seventhly,

the building of a modern, developed and democratic

nation by the State leaders elected by the hluttaw, the

Government and other central organs formed by the

hluttaw. All strata of the country's population have

adopted a unified approach and supported the road

map.

In recent weeks, Myanmar has taken substantial

steps on the road to democracy. It is important that the

international community recognize those positive

changes; credit must be given where credit is due.

Myanmar is working to ensure an environment in

which we can achieve our objectives. The people of

Myanmar are enthusiastic about consolidating the

progress achieved thus far. At the same time, we seek

to maintain good and friendly relations with all

countries in the region and in the rest of the world so

that we can thrive and prosper. We have never posed a

security threat to any neighbour, and we have always

sought to promote regional peace and stability and the

common weal of all our nations.

It is disconcerting that some countries have

chosen to turn a blind eye to reality and have subjected

Myanmar to a wide array of unfair economic sanctions

for their own political ends. Those unilateral coercive

measures not only go against the spirit and the letter of

the Charter of the United Nations, but also violate

international law and rules of international trade. They

are intrinsically unfair and only add to the hardships of

people already marginalized by globalization.

Countries that place a high premium on democracy and

human rights have a responsibility to live up to those

noble ideals in their relations with others. Our common

aspirations to peace and development can be fulfilled

only if nations avoid double standards and adopt a

more positive attitude.

We live in challenging and dangerous times.

Conflicts and tensions in various parts of the world

threaten global peace and security. Transnational

crimes and new forms of terrorism also add to our

problems. Yet it is in our power to make the world a

better place. Here, it is pertinent to recall what I stated

last year in this hallowed Hall: if we want to ensure a

better future for mankind, we must heed the teachings

of the world's great religions. Every religion calls for

tolerance, understanding and compassion for fellow

human beings. Only when we can overcome anger and

hatred and do away with false pride and prejudice will

we succeed in establishing a world in which peace and

justice prevail.

All conflicts, rivalries and hostilities have their

roots in hatred and enmity. We must try to overcome

them. We should all try to build a global order where

the strong will not impose their will on the weak and

where democracy prevails not only within nations, but

also in the international arena. Let us work together, as

a family of nations, to overcome the serious common

challenges that we face.