Myanmar, 2008

We live in an era when the

world is becoming increasingly interdependent.

Nothing illustrates this interdependency more than the

Asian financial crisis of a decade ago and the current

financial crisis gripping the world’s largest economy.

The problems may have local roots, but, given the

severity of the situation, their effects will transcend

borders. The world economy, and by extension the

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stability of nations, depends on the stability of the

financial markets.

In recent months, the world has also been

challenged by the soaring prices of fuel and food,

particularly such staples as rice. Those daunting

challenges add an extra burden to developing

countries. The answer to those problems lies not in

multiplying the number of world summits and

conferences but in taking concrete actions towards

implementing the commitments made.

My own country has the potential to contribute to

energy and food security in our region. We are willing

to do our part. We are making concerted efforts to

produce more crude oil and natural gas to meet the

needs of the domestic market as well as for export. We

also have huge potential to produce hydroelectric

power. Moreover, as the agriculture sector is the

mainstay of Myanmar’s economy, we are focusing on

expanding the cultivation of paddy, beans and pulses.

We have also introduced new industrial crops, such as

jatropha, for use in the production of biofuels.

Developing countries like my own need to have a

level playing field in order to promote the economic

prosperity and social progress of our people. Subsidies

and protectionist policies distort markets and do great

harm to developing countries. Political and social

progress can be achieved only through development,

never through coercive economic measures. Such

measures only serve to worsen the plight of the people,

particularly the most vulnerable among them, women

and children.

Unilateral sanctions have been imposed on my

country. Those sanctions are unwarranted. Unilateral

sanctions are also against international law. They are

not only unfair but immoral. They are counter-

productive and deprive countries of their right to

development and do not function as a solution to solve

the problem.

Myanmar has abundant land and natural

resources with which to make a meaningful

contribution to the energy and food security of our

country and beyond. But in order for us to fulfil our

potential we need unfettered access to markets. We

need modern technology; we need investment. The

sooner the unjust sanctions are revoked and the barriers

removed, the sooner the country will be in a position to

become the rice bowl of the region and a reliable

source of energy.

That brings me to the matter of making the

United Nations an Organization better suited to meet

the challenges of the twenty-first century. Only a more

democratic Organization will be able to respond to the

needs of Member States and serve the interests of the

international community as a whole. Reform of the

Organization, particularly reform of the Security

Council, has been on our agenda for some time.

However, progress has been extremely slow. The role

and authority of the General Assembly as the principal

deliberative and representative organ must be

enhanced, including in the maintenance of international

peace and security.

Reform of the Security Council has eluded us for

over a decade. Myanmar believes that the membership

of the Security Council should reflect current reality.

We believe in an increase in the membership of the

Council in both the permanent and the elected

categories. Reform should not be confined to an

increase in membership but must also include

improvement in the Council’s working methods. Above

all, it should result in a Security Council that is

transparent, credible and democratic.

Here, I would like to stress that attempts to

initiate formal or informal discussions in the Security

Council on situations that do not constitute a threat to

international peace and security are contrary to the

letter and the spirit of the Charter. This is a view that

Myanmar shares with the Non-Aligned Movement,

which constitutes a clear majority of the membership

of our Organization.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

adopted in 2000 are imperatives that the international

community has set for itself. We have now passed the

midpoint, but progress has been uneven. Much more

remains to be done if the Goals are to be achieved by

2015. While national Governments have the primary

responsibility to ensure progress, the international

community must help by creating an environment that

will enable developing countries to turn faltering steps

towards development into firm strides. Fulfilment of

official development assistance commitments,

increased investment flows, improved market access

and resolution of the debt problem are needed to enable

the developing countries to achieve the Millennium

Development Goals.

For its part, Myanmar is striving to promote better

living standards for its people. The implementation of

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the MDGs is inextricably linked to the implementation

of our national development plan. The national plan

focuses on the promotion of equitable and balanced

socio-economic development of both rural and urban

areas. In recent years, we have made significant

progress in areas such as poverty alleviation, the

promotion of health and education.

In the health sector, Myanmar has been

implementing a national plan that accords priority to

the eradication of major diseases such as HIV/AIDS,

malaria and tuberculosis. The high-level multisectoral

committee on AIDS has been overseeing HIV/AIDS

prevention and care activities in our country since

1989. The activities undertaken by the committee

include active surveillance, prevention of mother-to-

child transmission and community, institution and

home-based care services. These activities are carried

out by the Government in close cooperation with

international organizations such as the World Health

Organization, UNICEF and the World Food Programme,

and with national and international non-governmental

organizations in order to reach out widely to vulnerable

groups.

As a result, Myanmar has not only levelled the

rate of HIV/AIDS infection but also reduced it. I would

like to emphasize that if we are to achieve a more

dynamic and effective global response to HIV/AIDS,

adequate resources must be made available. Moreover,

allocation of resources for HIV/AIDS, malaria and

tuberculosis must be based on need rather than on

political considerations.

With regard to education, we envision a system

for our people that will generate a learning society

capable of meeting the challenges of the information

age we live in. Long-term investment in the education

sector is being made with the aim of building human

resource development. The Government has been

expanding the number of basic, primary, post-primary,

middle and high schools throughout the country in

order to provide access to education for all. We

strongly believe education to be a fundamental

requirement for the attainment of sustainable

development. It is also a prerequisite for the

achievement of other MDGs.

I am happy to be able to say that, as a result of

our efforts, the literacy rate of those 15 years old and

above has risen to 94.8 per cent. Likewise, the rate of

enrolment in primary schools has reached 98 per cent.

Myanmar also accords priority to creating job

opportunities in rural areas as part of its poverty

alleviation strategy. In that regard, development

projects to improve economic, educational and health

conditions in rural areas are being implemented all

over the country.

The Secretary-General’s initiative to convene

today’s Ministerial Meeting on Reducing Disaster

Risks in a Changing Climate is indeed timely. We in

Myanmar can relate to the growing concern of the

world regarding climate change and its adverse effects.

We felt the full brunt of the devastating consequences

of climate change last May, when a powerful cyclone

slammed into the Ayeyarwaddy delta. Cyclone Nargis

left unprecedented death and destruction in its wake.

The pain and sorrow felt by the survivors of the

devastating storm continue even today.

There is, however, a silver lining in the dark

clouds. The Myanmar nation was united in its response

to the emergency. The outpouring of generosity was

overwhelming. People from all walks of life, regardless

of their own difficulties, donated, in cash and in kind,

for the victims. The United Nations, States members of

the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, donor

countries, non-governmental organizations and

individuals from around the world also responded

generously. We have been able to demonstrate

willingness and ability to work in concert with the

international community. We have been able to rebuild

better and stronger homes, schools and monasteries.

The paddy fields destroyed by the storm have been

replanted.

I would like to take this opportunity to express

our heartfelt appreciation to our friends from far and

near who came to our assistance in our time of need.

Myanmar is home to over 100 national races, and

national unity is of paramount importance.

Accordingly, we have been resolutely pursuing a policy

of national reconciliation. Our endeavours have

resulted in the return to the legal fold of 17 armed

groups. We have effectively put an end to the decades-

long insurgency. Peace and stability now prevail in

almost all parts of the country.

We have also been implementing a seven-step

political road map to democracy. The representatives of

former armed groups, together with the representatives

of political parties, ethnic nationalities and other

representatives, took an active part in the National

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Convention process. The National Convention laid

down the fundamental principles to be enshrined in a

new constitution. Based on those principles, a new

Constitution was drafted and was put to a nationwide

referendum last May. The people of Myanmar

overwhelmingly approved the draft constitution.

The fifth step of the road map, general elections,

will be taken in 2010. Necessary measures are being

undertaken for the elections. All citizens, regardless of

political affiliation, will have equal rights to form

political parties and to conduct election campaigns.

The Government will make every effort to ensure that

the elections are free and fair. The international

community can best assist Myanmar’s democratization

process by respecting the will of its people, expressed

in the recent referendum.

The daunting challenges of the twenty-first

century can be addressed only through international

cooperation. We can solve international problems of

economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character

only by working together. To do this, powerful

countries should refrain from practicing hegemonic

policies through either political or economic pressure.

In the global village in which we live, mutual

respect, understanding and tolerance must be the

values that we espouse. Let us work together to give

our global village a peaceful and prosperous future.