Qatar, 1998

I would like at the

outset to extend sincere congratulations to Mr. Opertti on

his election as President of this new session, the fifty-third

session of the General Assembly. I wish him every success

in presiding over its meetings and conducting its work.

Also, I cannot but extend heartfelt thanks to

Mr. Opertti's predecessor, Mr. Hennadiy Y. Udovenko, the

Minister for Foreign Affairs of friendly Ukraine, for the

efforts he expended during his presidency at the fifty-

second session. I wish him success in his future

endeavours.

Here we come again to this universal forum, to meet,

discuss and debate questions that concern our nations and

peoples. This has become more necessary and pressing than

ever before. The world in which we live today, and in

which, God willing, future generations will live, has grown

smaller in terms of geography and time, but to our great

regret its problems and crises are still as great and as

complicated as ever. They have even become greater and

more complicated as a result of their interconnectedness

and interrelated nature and the interactions among their

ramifications and effects.

We cannot but wonder, while sitting here within the

framework of this universal, international organization,

about the events and developments that occurred in our

world during the past year and about those emerging

questions and crises that call for our utmost attention. Have

we managed to take steps towards the better world we seek

for our countries and peoples? Have we succeeded in

settling any of the bloody conflicts or in pacifying any

region fraught with tension and any of the chronic hotbeds

of tension in the network of regional and international

relations? Has democracy flourished and have human rights

been consolidated? Have we dealt with the problem of

terrorism and succeeded in eliminating its causes and

manifestations? How far have we gone in our efforts to

combat the devastating scourge of drugs? And to what

extent have we achieved the aspirations to put an end to

poverty, misery and unemployment; to find humanitarian

solutions to the phenomenon of migration and the mass

flow of refugees; to eliminate international organized

crime syndicates; to prevent the proliferation of weapons

of mass destruction in general, and nuclear weapons in

particular; to halt the arms race; and to devote more

resources and energy to programmes of development,

education and welfare? These are major questions

concerning urgent issues and problems that call for our

utmost attention and efforts in order to attain these long-

awaited solutions and remedies.

During the past months, we have all followed the

developments of the economic and monetary crises that

have engulfed the States of South-East Asia and the Far

East. We have seen how these developments have led

these States to stagnation, inflation and social suffering

after they had been models of prosperity and rapid growth

for the world.

Also, we are still following with grave concern the

economic and financial upheaval experienced by the

Russian Federation, to whose new Government I would

like on this occasion to wish success in its efforts to cope

with this turmoil and to extricate the country from the

difficulties it is facing.

Naturally, we are concerned at the prospect of the

extension of the adverse consequences of these turbulent

economic conditions to other States and regions of the

world that have been relatively free from them so far.

This brings us to the repercussions of all of this on the

economies of our States in the Gulf region and the

Middle East, especially in the light of the drop in the

world oil prices and the decline of the revenue earned

from this vital commodity on which the producing and

exporting States are primarily dependent to implement

their programmes and attain their development

aspirations.

If these developments prove one thing, it is the

extent to which organic interdependence and interrelation

have come to characterize the economies of the world,

control its markets and define the constantly fluid relation

between its producers and its consumers. This, in turn,

prompts us to deal with these monetary and economic

conditions from a global, open perspective free from

isolationism and narrow-mindedness. It is also incumbent

upon us to make the necessary efforts to cope with the

present crisis on the basis of international partnership,

social justice and developmental and monetary balance,

and to prevent it from worsening and becoming, God

forbid, a worldwide economic recession. If this were to

happen, it would have extremely adverse political, social

28

and economic effects with unpredictable consequences for

us all.

We speak about global concerns and questions, but

regional crises and conditions have not been any better

during recent months. The peace to which we have aspired

in our region is still, to our great regret, an elusive mirage.

It is indeed very distressing, even enraging, for one to see

that several years of negotiations, endeavours and mediation

have failed, so far, to bring the peace process in the Middle

East to its desired objective: the achievement of a

comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the

principles of international legitimacy, on the resolutions of

this world Organization which is hosting our current debate,

and on the basis of security, stability and mutual

recognition among all nations and peoples of the region.

It is also regrettable that the peace process has not

experienced any positive development since the coming into

office of the present Government in Israel; rather, it has

suffered a serious setback. At a certain time there were

hopes and expectations that the Middle East was on the

verge of a genuine peace allowing everyone to live in

safety and tranquillity, and to enjoy equal rights. The hope

was that the wars that had set the region ablaze and had

bled it for so long would come to an end, to be superseded

by a process of development, cooperation and prosperity.

In the light of those hopes, a series of economic

conferences related to the peace process was launched, the

last of which was the Al-Doha Conference, after which

these conferences came to a halt. This is indeed a reflection

of the situation which the peace efforts reached and the

difficulties that have faced and are still facing these efforts.

The essential problem facing the peace process, in our

view, is the fact that Israel, under its current Prime Minister

and its hard-line Government, has reneged, and is still

reneging, on the principles which originally formed the

basis for the peace process, and on the accords concluded

in the framework of that process between the former Israeli

Government and its Arab neighbours.

Here, I would like to remind the Israeli Government

that the peace process was based on the implementation of

Security Council resolutions, especially resolutions 242

(1967) and 338 (1973), regarding the need for withdrawal

from the Arab territories occupied in 1967, and resolution

425 (1978) regarding southern Lebanon and the Lebanese

Bekaa. This process was also based on the principle of land

for peace and the attainment by the Palestinian people of

their legitimate rights. We view all of these principles as

international obligations, which Israel, as a State Member

of the United Nations, must honour and abide by.

In this regard, allow me to depart from the text of

my statement to say how fervently I wish that Prime

Minister Netanyahu had been sincere in his statement

yesterday, when he claimed he was as interested in

providing security and peace for Palestinian children as he

was for his own children. However, the bitter reality with

which we are all familiar says otherwise. Since

Mr. Netanyahu took office, his Government has been

pursuing a policy contrary to the objectives and the spirit

of the peace process in the region. His failure to

implement the accords signed with the Palestinian side

has worsened the suffering of all segments of the

Palestinian people, including the Palestinian children who

suffer harsh living conditions where they lack the

minimum basic requirements of life in education, health

and nutrition. I wish Mr. Netanyahu had informed us of

the future awaiting these children, who are chafing under

the effect of the economic embargo imposed on them by

his own Government.

In this context, I have to underline the tragic

conditions of the Palestinian people under occupation and

the daily arbitrary practices they suffer at the hands of the

Israeli forces, as if they had not suffered enough from

1948 until the present day. Here, I would like to single

out in particular settlement activity, the confiscation of

land, the demolition of houses and the driving of whole

families out of their homes. All of this should strengthen

our resolve to intensify efforts towards achieving a just

solution that would restore to the Palestinian people their

legitimate rights, including their right to establish their

independent State, with holy Al-Quds as its capital, and

secure the withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied

Arab territories in the Syrian Golan, south Lebanon and

the Lebanese Bekaa in conformity with United Nations

resolutions and the principles of international legitimacy.

This would make it possible to speak of genuine peace in

the region on a just, comprehensive basis and on the basis

of mutual respect and security for all.

I would also like to indicate that the decision by the

Israeli Government on 21 June 1998 to expand the

municipal limits of the city of Jerusalem, which would

alter the legal status of the Holy City, is a direct

contravention of the relevant resolutions of the Security

Council and the General Assembly. Moreover, such a step

contradicts the accords concluded between the Israelis and

the Palestinians and violates the basis of the peace

process which provides for deferring the question of

29

Al-Quds so that it would be agreed upon in the permanent

status negotiations. Therefore, we express our support for

the presidential statement issued by the Security Council on

13 July 1998 in response to the Israeli action. The Council

called upon Israel to refrain from executing its plans and

from taking any action that would prejudice the outcome of

such negotiations or pre-empt the accords that they may

result in. The statement also calls upon Israel to comply

scrupulously with its legal obligations and responsibilities

under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of

Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949.

I would also like to place on record our satisfaction

with the result of the voting at the 89th meeting of the

General Assembly?s fifty-second session, on 7 July 1998,

which resulted in granting Palestine, in its capacity as

observer in this international body, additional rights and

privileges of participation in the sessions and work of the

Assembly. We view this step as a simple rehabilitation and

a modest step towards endorsing the membership of

Palestine and its legitimate position in the framework of the

United Nations and its institutions, in the hope that the day

will come when, God willing, we will see the Palestine

delegation representing a State admitted as a full-fledged,

active member in this universal, international organization

in the near future.

The consolidation of peace and security, the

enhancement of the principles of mutual confidence and

good neighbourliness, the peaceful settlement of all

conflicts and disputes through dialogue and peaceful means,

and commitment to the principles of international law are

the foundations of the policy of my country, Qatar, vis-à-

vis our neighbours. That is why we consider the question

of security and peace in the Gulf region and the Middle

East a vital question of the highest priority for us and for

our brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council. From this

perspective, we call for the settlement of the dispute

between our sister State, the United Arab Emirates, and the

friendly Islamic Republic of Iran over the islands of Abu

Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb through bilateral

diplomatic efforts or, if need be, by resorting to

international arbitration. This would contribute to the

evolution of Gulf-Iranian relations.

On another level, the Iraqi crisis, in its turn, has been

unresolved for years and there are no signs on the horizon

of an impending, appropriate solution to it. With the

persistence of this situation in Baghdad, which could erupt

at any moment, and with all its potential for destabilizing

the entire region, the condition of the Iraqi people has

reached tragic proportions under the effect of the

international sanctions that have been imposed upon the

country for years. Whether or not we are convinced of the

usefulness of these sanctions in achieving their envisaged

objectives, and while we fully assert the need to

implement all relevant Security Council resolutions, we

would also express the hope that the embargo imposed on

the Iraqi people will be lifted in order to mitigate the

harsh suffering it has caused and the adverse effects it has

had on these people.

We view with concern the tense situation in the

neighbouring region of the Horn of Africa, where States

and people have suffered numerous tragedies and

hardships as a result of border and civil conflicts and

wars. These have resulted in the squandering of resources

and potentials and aggravated the phenomena of poverty,

starvation and migration.

I would like to single out the Republic of the Sudan,

the suffering of whose people, we hope, will end in a

manner that preserves its territorial integrity and the unity

of its people. We also hope that all differences among the

States of the region will be settled by peaceful means and

on the basis of international legitimacy, so as to ensure

cooperation and good-neighbourliness among all States

and peoples.

Furthermore, we in the State of Qatar feel that the

lifting of the embargo and sanctions imposed on the sister

Libyan Jamahiriya is a basic and popular demand,

especially in the wake of recent positive developments in

this matter. In this regard, we would express our hope and

confidence that the efforts currently under way will result

in a judicial and diplomatic formula satisfactory to all

parties to this question and put a definitive end to its

repercussions. This would ensure the lifting of the

embargo and the sanctions imposed on Libya and close

the file on the Lockerbie question, while doing justice to

all parties concerned.

In the same vein, and proceeding from the strong

attachment of the State of Qatar to the principle of the

peaceful settlement of disputes and from its profound

belief in the necessity of consolidating security and

stability and avoiding the dangers of war, hostilities and

clashes of any kind, I wish to express our great concern

over the regrettable events unfolding in Afghanistan and

the escalation of tension along its borders with Iran.

While stressing our conviction that the best means to

solve the Afghan crisis in its various aspects lie in the

diplomatic good offices which are proceeding under the

supervision and auspices of the United Nations, we appeal

30

to the parties concerned to desist from any action to further

escalate the conflict or widen its scope.

Moreover, I cannot but touch upon the tragedy of the

people of the Kosovo region, which is now suffering the

same civil conflicts, “ethnic cleansing” and mass migration

that have plagued other peoples of the former Yugoslavia.

While thanking the Secretary-General of the United

Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, for his tireless efforts and

initiatives to defuse tensions and settle conflicts throughout

the world, we call upon him once again to continue and

redouble his efforts to end these conflicts and prevent their

expansion and escalation, especially in Kosovo,

Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa.

The crises and conflicts I have cited are but examples

of the magnitude of the challenges and tasks which we

must face. There are many thorny questions and

complicated problems to which all of us, the inhabitants of

this planet, regardless of our different races and beliefs,

must work together to seek solutions, for the sake of our

future and that of our children and grandchildren.

Foremost and most serious among these is the

question of the proliferation of weapons of mass

destruction, including chemical, biological and, especially,

nuclear weapons. A few months ago, we, like the entire

world, were shocked by the disturbing developments arising

from the exchange of nuclear-weapons tests by India and

Pakistan and by their inherent threat of unleashing a

conventional and nuclear arms race between those two large

neighbours. Here, I would like to recall the position of my

country on such tests: We call for the exercise of wisdom

and the prompt signing by all States, without exception, of

the treaties banning nuclear tests and limiting the

proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction, while

earnestly seeking to reduce the number of such weapons in

the world in preparation for their complete elimination. This

is specifically what we would like to see in our region,

which, I emphasize, we would wish entirely free of

weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons.

In this regard, I would point out that Israel is the only

nuclear-weapon State in the region and the only State that

has so far refused to sign the treaties relevant to the

prohibition of such weapons and the prevention of their

proliferation. If it persists, this situation will lead to tension

and the repercussions arising from the imbalance of power

it causes. Therefore, in our view, it is necessary and

imperative to take concrete steps to eliminate these weapons

from the region, so as to avoid the risks of launching an

arms race that would further destabilize the region.

The State of Qatar also signed the Convention on the

Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and

Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their

Destruction, which was concluded in Oslo. We signed it

officially in Ottawa last December, prompted by our

belief in the correctness of banning these mines and our

awareness of the many humanitarian tragedies resulting

from their use, especially among innocent civilians in the

wake of the wars during which they had originally been

laid.

Other worldwide scourges, which we have long seen

proliferate and expand, are no less serious than weapons

of mass destruction in terms of their devastating and

comprehensive effects on the peoples and States of the

world. Drugs, organized crime, famine and the disruption

of environmental and climatic conditions have all become

global threats. We sincerely believe that it is impossible

to tackle these threats except through comprehensive

international endeavours and programmes.

In this regard, I would like, on behalf of my

Government, to thank and congratulate the friendly

Government of Italy and the delegations of the world that

participated in the United Nations Diplomatic Conference

of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an

International Criminal Court, which was held in Rome

last June and July. It culminated in a declaration on the

establishment of this Court, the jurisdiction of which will

include trying those responsible for acts of genocide and

war criminals.

I would also like to refer to the twentieth special

session of the General Assembly devoted to countering

the world drug problem, held in this Hall early last June.

It showed us the magnitude of this intractable problem

and its serious effects on all people of the world without

exception. My Government would like to thank the

friendly Government of Mexico for taking the initiative of

proposing to the General Assembly the convening of the

special session in order to draw up a comprehensive

international strategy, under the auspices of the United

Nations, to cope with this problem, which threatens

everybody.

The need to protect and conserve the environment

has become a pressing question that requires all of us, as

peoples inhabiting this planet, to devote greater efforts

and resources to addressing it in a framework of

coordination and cooperation on a comprehensive

international level and in the context of the assumption by

each of us of his own responsibilities and duties. There is

31

no doubt that the environment today has been severely

damaged by the faulty policies and practices still pursued

by some industrial States and institutions. This damage is

also a result of mankind?s age-old neglect of and

indifference to its surroundings. However, the time has now

come to undertake a coordinated and serious universal

effort to put an end to these abuses and practices, which

clearly threaten the future of the globe and all its peoples

and regions with a potential calamity.

The right of man to live in dignity and freedom

remains. For the Government and the people of Qatar it is

a sacred divine right, which we must all respect and

protect. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm that human rights

and man?s freedom to live in dignity and security are

protected and available everywhere in today?s world. There

are still numerous disturbing exceptions and violations in

many regions and States of the world. Fortunately,

however, we are witnessing significant progress towards

substantial recognition of these legitimate human rights, of

greater political, social and cultural democracy and of

humanitarian and civilizational openness.

It is our sincere hope and desire that that progress will

be consolidated and strengthened throughout the world. In

Qatar, we are especially proud that, under the auspices of

His Highness the Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa

Al-Thani and under his instructions, vital pioneering steps

are being taken to achieve more democracy and to

consolidate participation by all segments of the population

through the exercise of responsibility and freedom of

choice, the guarantee of social and civil rights and civic

duty, and respect for freedom of opinion, of speech and of

the press within the framework of the laws and the ideals

and values in which we believe and which we cherish.

As we stand today at the threshold of a new century

with its attendant rapid and continuous changes,

transformations and surprises and face the growing number

of tasks and the greater challenges they impose, we are

firmly convinced of the need for readiness and preparedness

to meet these challenges, undertake the tasks assigned to us

and shoulder our responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation,

coordination, friendship, mutual respect and commonality

of interest for the benefit of our countries and peoples.

Proceeding from our deep faith in God Almighty, this

is the least we can do for ourselves, our countries and our

peoples and for our one world. Our responsibility to the

future generations dictates that we must provide for them a

better world, a better life and a better future. May God

guide us.