Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : NEW YORK
Tarikh/Date : 04/10/88
Tajuk/Title : THE 43RD SESSION OF THE UNITED
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Mr. President,
It is with much pleasure that I extend to you my
heartiest congratulations on your election as President of
the 43rd General Assembly. Your well known diplomatic
skills and outstanding abilities will ensure that the
deliberations of this assembly will be constructive and
rewarding.
2. To your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Peter Florin,
we owe a great debt of gratitude for his tireless devotion
in presiding, with consummate skill and infinite wisdom,
over the deliberations of the 42nd Session of the General
Assembly.
3. To the Secretary General, we offer our sincere
felicitations on his outstanding contributions to the cause
of world peace and security. My delegation also extends our
congratulations, through the Secretary General, to the
United Nations Peacekeeping Forces for the award of the
Nobel Peace prize so fittingly bestowed upon them. The
Nobel Peace prize speaks eloquently as a tribute to the
individuals from various Member States of the United Nations
and those within the United Nations organisation who have so
honourably discharged their duties in upholding the
principles embodied in the United Nations Charter.
4. The General Assembly meets this year at a propitious
time indeed. World regard for the United Nations has taken
a turn for the better -- influenced as everyone is by the
return of peace and the promises of peace to many flash
points; Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, Namibia, Western Sahara,
Cyprus, Kampuchea, and perhaps also to the Korean
Peninsular. In contrast to the cynicism and the
disillusionment that many have felt in the past about the
U.N., we are now witnessing a clear shift towards a better
appreciation of the role of the U.N. and its relevance to
the aspirations of the community of nations. We would like
to believe that at long last the U.N. is coming into its own
and fulfilling the tasks of moving conflicts from the
battlefields to the conference table.
5. Malaysia's faith and confidence in the United Nations
have never wavered but we were saddened to see in the past
the struggle of the United Nations to retain its relevance
and credibility. Multilateralism had become a bad word as
the powerful nations resorted to solving problems on their
own. We are therefore pleased to welcome this change, this
renewal of faith in the U.N. which we hope would mean the
birth of a new era in multilateralism.
6. As an international organisation, the U.N. must be
perceived to be relevant in meeting the needs of its
members, as a forum for multilateral diplomacy, as an
instrument for maintaining international peace and security
and as a catalyst for promoting international economic
growth and development. The United Nations is at its most
effective in the discharge of its functions when Member
States fully support the course of action that the United
Nations takes. The most telling example is the unanimous
support given by the members of the Security Council to the
UN Secretary General to bring about an end to the Iran-Iraq
war. The collective efforts of the Security Council,
permanent and non-permanent members together, have raised
clear hopes towards conflict resolutions. We are witnessing
for the first time in decades, a convergence of interest and
will, of member countries to effect solutions on major
issues. This development, it is hoped, would fulfill the
vision of the pioneers of the U.N. when they conferred upon
the Security Council the primary responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace and security. Malaysia
stands for the full and effective discharge of the Council's
conciliatory and mandatory powers and for universal
compliance with, and implementation of the Council's
decisions. It is a matter of great assurance to all of us
that the increased effectiveness of the Security Council has
been made possible by the convergence of interest and action
of the United States and the Soviet Union. Conversely it
should be instructive to these two countries that they are
drawing from the best of themselves when they counsel and
collaborate together with the rest of the world on common
objectives.
7. When on extols the achievements of the United Nations,
one is not refusing to recognise that the steady improvement
of relations between the United States and the Soviet Union
have helped significantly in bringing about progress on
conflict resolutions. All of us who have lived under
periods of unease and uncertainty, when the two powers
stared at each other eye-ball to eye-ball, are greatly
relieved that these two super powers are realistically
discussing peace and construction between them. They can
make an enormous contribution to the realisation of the
principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. It
is our common appeal to both these countries that they seek
recourse through all the institutions of the United Nations
when attempting to defuse conflicts and in realising a more
equitable world order. A United Nations functioning at its
best will be in the interest of all its members and not
simply serve the interest of certain powers or group of
states. The time for U.N. bashing and the assault on
multilateralism is over. If universal responsibility is a
creed that this and future generations can believe in, then
every country must provide full commitment to the United
Nations. A revitalized United Nations poised to assume even
greater responsibilities must not be hampered by a lack of
financial resources. A sine qua non for its very survival
is the timely payment by member countries of their assessed
contributions.
Mr. President,
8. Malaysia welcomes the signing of the Geneva Accords on
Afghanistan. There must be complete and faithful
implementation of these accords by all concerned parties, if
the sufferings of the people of Afghanistan, after eight
years of bloody and brutal war, is to come to a definite
conclusion and if Afghanistan is to regain its independence.
At this juncture, may I pay tribute to the late President
Zia-Ul-Haq of Pakistan for his immense contribution towards
the successful signing of the Geneva Accords. My country
and many others will sadly miss the friendship and wise
counsel of the late President.
9. The withdrawal of Soviet forces must continue and be
completed within the agreed time-frame. It is our hope that
the accords would be fully implemented to enable the Afghan
people to freely exercise their right to self-determination
through the process of genuine reconciliation.
10. Malaysia hopes the United Nations humanitarian and
economic assistance programmes relating to Afghanistan will
be able to meet the immediate needs for relief and
rehabilitation as well as the long term requirements for
reconstruction of the country. But full implementation of
such assistance could only be realised under conditions of
peace and stability in Afghanistan.
11. The acceptance by Iran and Iraq of Security Council
resolution 598 as the framework for the termination of the
Iran-Iraq War is a source of satisfaction to us all. The
world witnessed in horror and helplessness the terrible toll
exacted by the conflict for eight long years. We are
therefore thankful that the first crucial steps for a
durable solution have been taken. It is our hope and prayer
that the resolve by Iran and Iraq to embark on the path of
peace is irrevocable and that they will now turn their full
attention to marshalling the creative energies and talents
of their peoples to the urgent tasks of national
reconstruction and development.
12. Despite all efforts, the Middle East is still embroiled
in an endless cycle of violence. Israel must bear
responsibility for this tragic state of affairs as it
remains the main stumbling block to any peace attempts in
the region. The United Nations has not been allowed to play
its proper role in the search for a settlement primarily on
account of Israel's intransigence. Israel is single-minded
in the execution of its policies of aggression and expansion
and brutal subjugation of the Palestinian people. It has
defied the international community's call for a total
withdrawal from all occupied territories. The Palestinian
problem, the core of the Middle East conflict, remains
unresolved due to the arrogant Israeli hubris and its
continued refusal to recognize the rights of the Palestinian
people to self-determination and to an independent state.
13. Israel cannot continue to believe that it can ensure
its security and survival by adherence to policies which
seek to consign the Palestinian people to either permanent
diaspora or permanent oppressive Israeli rule. The
holocaust cannot be flaunted by Israel as an excuse for
treating Arabs under their rule in like manner.
14. Israel's policy of dictating to the Palestinians as to
whom they should choose to speak for them, has been an
unmitigated failure. The P.L.O. remains the sole and
legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The
best hope for a durable and comprehensive settlement of the
Palestinian problem lies in the convening of an
international peace conference on the Middle East, with the
participation of all parties, including the P.L.O. Malaysia
fully supports the convening of such a conference and calls
upon those powers that have been the strongest supporters of
Israel to lend their influence to convince Israel that its
vital interests are best served by dialogue and negotiations
at a peace conference rather than by the mailed fist.
Indeed these supporters of Israel must share the moral
responsibility for the injustice and inhumanity committed by
Israel against the Palestinians.
Mr. President,
15. In South Africa, we are confronted with the challenge
of a regime that seeks to dehumanize human beings on the
basis of colour. The only response of good men to this
crime against humanity and an affront to the universal
conscience must be to seek the total destruction of the evil
system of apartheid. It is a delusion for anyone to believe
that we can effect an evolution of the system into something
more human and humane. The hideous manifestations of
apartheid are seen daily in the atrocities inflicted on
black South Africans.
16. Malaysia has never been persuaded by the arguments
advanced by some that it is in the interest of the blacks of
South Africa that comprehensive sanctions should not be
imposed against the Pretoria regime. We therefore reiterate
our call for decisive action in the form of comprehensive
mandatory sanctions under Chapter 7 of the United Nations
Charter.
17. Consistent with our stand, we have undertaken efforts
to provide assistance to black South Africans and the
front-line states to assist them in coping with the
destabilisation caused by South Africa and to enable them to
cope with possible effects which comprehensive sanctions
would have on them. A total of US$2 million has been
pledged as Malaysia's contribution to the Africa Fund
established for this Purpose by the Non-Aligned Movement.
We wish to appeal for generous support by the international
community for the Africa Fund which must be seen as part of
a universal battle to bring about the total elimination of
the system of apartheid.
18. The agreement on the comprehensive settlement of South
Western Africa, offers Namibia the promise of realizing its
freedom and independence. It is our hope that all parties
to the agreement will enter into the spirit of the times and
bring peace and freedom to the long suffering people of
Namibia. Familiar with the record of the Pretoria regime in
exploiting every opportunity to perpetuate its iron grip on
Namibia, we must continue to apply unrelenting international
pressure on the regime to honour its commitments.
19. In the meantime, our support of SWAPO must continue
unabated. We have seen how SWAPO's successes on the
battlefields of Namibia have forced the hand of the Pretoria
regime to reluctantly agree to a negotiated solution of the
problem. Pressure must therefore be sustained on the ground
to prevent South Africa from reneging on its promises.
Mr. President,
20. The question of Kampuchea has been a subject for debate
at every United Nations General Assembly Session for the
last nine years. With the support of a huge majority of its
members, this Assembly has repeatedly called for the total
withdrawal of Vietnamese forces, the restoration and
preservation of the independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Kampuchea and the reaffirmation of
the right of its people to self-determination.
21. The fundamental issues of the Kampuchean problem have
to be clearly addressed. Vietnam's forces in Kampuchea must
withdraw. Vietnam should not be allowed to continue to
cloud this issue. There cannot be any conditionality. The
concerns of the international community and ASEAN to prevent
the return of the universally condemned policies and
practices of a recent past must be addressed. The
Kampuchean people must be ensured that they will be free
from the horrors of the past. National reconciliation under
the effective leadership of His Royal Highness Prince
Norodom Sihanouk will not only heal divisions between the
various Kampuchean partners, but will also regain for that
turbulent country its rightful sovereignty and independence.
22. The constant search for a solution by the ASEAN
countries has yielded a significant measure of success with
the convening of the Jakarta Informal Meeting in July. This
meeting was a regional initiative which is an important
milestone in the process of finding a comprehensive
political solution to the Kampuchean problem. This
initiative should be allowed to continue. The present
international climate augurs well for the parties concerned
to come together in the near future to achieve agreement on
the issues. Malaysia welcomes the efforts of the
Non-Aligned. Movement to complement regional efforts on
Kampuchea.
23. Peace in Kampuchea will contribute tremendously to
regional peace and security. It will facilitate the way for
more cooperative relations among the states of Southeast
Asia, particularly between ASEAN and Vietnam. It is our
hope that the peace that we long for will bring about a
climate of regional stability and cooperation which can then
realise early the regional aspiration for zone of peace,
freedom and neutrality in Southeast Asia.
24. The Vietnamese invasion and occupation of Kampuchea has
resulted in the displacement of a large number of people.
Further the influx of boat people from Vietnam seeking
better opportunities elsewhere have for several years added
serious problems to countries like Malaysia, Thailand and
others. Of late, Malaysia has reached an understanding with
the Government of Vietnam in which the latter will accept
the repatriation of those boat people in Malaysia who are
not qualified for resettlement in third countries and to
prevent fresh exodus. We are happy to note that Vietnam has
agreed to participate in the Preparatory Meeting which
Malaysia hopes to host to prepare for the International
Conference on Indochinese Refugees and the boat people.
Mr. President,
25. In Central America the high expectations raised by the
regionally initiated Esquipulas Peace Agreement have not yet
been fulfilled. The aspirations of the peoples of Central
America for peace, freedom and justice remain hostage to the
harsh dictates of international and external divisions in
the region. Coercive measures from outside the area only
compound the problems of the region, and should not be
allowed to continue. It is our hope that the peace process
will be given renewed impetus by the very leaders whose
vision and statesmanship led to the signing of the
Esquipulas Agreement.
26. In raising the issue of Antarctica at the U.N., it was
the intention of Malaysia and the other like-minded
countries to draw attention to the considerable
environmental, climatic and scientific significance of the
continent to the world. We also earnestly seek an
international instrument having universal validity and
serving the interests of and for the benefit of mankind.
27. It is most regrettable that a Convention on the
Regulation of Antarctica Mineral Resources Activities has
been concluded recently in total disregard for U.N.
resolutions calling for a moratorium on all negotiations on
a minerals regime until such time as all members of the
international community can fully participate in such
negotiations. We cannot understand the haste because all
the minerals that can possibly be found in Antarctica can be
found in plenty elsewhere.
28. We also regret that the General Assembly appeals for
urgent measures to exclude the racist regime of South Africa
from participating in the meetings of the Consultative
Parties at the earliest possible date, have not been acted
upon.
29. Antarctica represents to us a touchstone on the
constancy of the adherence of the Consultative Parties to
fundamental principles and norms which have evolved through
common endeavours and have gained universal currency in the
course of the democratizing process of international
relations and institutions. We remain steadfast in our
conviction that a regime for Antarctica built on such
foundations will better reflect and respond to the needs of
our age than the one founded upon circumstances and
considerations which are tainted with colonialist
adventurism.
30. The issue of disarmament must remain high on the agenda
of this organization and must continue to merit the urgent
attention of the international community. Threats to
mankind derive not only from the stockpiling and continuous
development of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction
but also from the growing arsenals of sophisticated
conventional weapons. We are now also beset with the
problem of nuclear and toxic wastes dumped in the developing
countries. Our efforts at arms control and disarmament must
proceed on all fronts and a prerequisite for any success in
this regard must be a general improvement in the climate of
relations amongst states. An important start has been made
with the signing of the Agreement on Intermediate Nuclear
Forces between the United States and the Soviet Union in May
this year. This agreement is an important breakthrough and
should generate the necessary mutual confidence and trust to
conclude negotiations on the reduction of strategic weapons
and on the additional verification procedures required for a
complete test ban treaty.
31. While the two superpowers with the largest arsenal of
nuclear weapons must carry the primary responsibility for
bringing about progress in nuclear disarmament, multilateral
approaches should make an important contribution in the
attainment of mankind's aims of a safer world through arms
control and disarmament.
32. We regret that the outcome of the General Assembly's
Third Special Session devoted to Disarmament did not meet
with our highest expectations but we remain hopeful that the
steady improvement in the international climate will
generate the necessary political will for the success of
such multilateral initiatives, which provides the best
opportunity for a genuine harmonisation and reconciliation
of all interests. The resources released from the
successful achievement of the disarmament process would
provide a source of much needed funds for humanitarian work
and productive investments in the economic development of
the developing world.
33. Outer space, which we reaffirm as the common heritage
of mankind, should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes
and we urge that negotiations on the prevention of the
militarisation of outer space should begin in earnest.
Malaysia would also like to lend its strong support for the
early conclusion of a convention for the complete
prohibition of the production, research, stockpiling and use
of all chemical weapons.
Mr. President,
34. The economic issues before this Assembly would appear
to be stale issues for they have been repeatedly debated
over the years. But being stale does not make it any less
relevant, nor less urgent. On the contrary, the resolution
of these economic problems, such as the establishment of a
fairer and more favourable international trading
environment, a re-examination of the role and functions of
the multilateral financial institutions, a review and
re-alignment of the international exchange rate regime and a
resolution of the international debt problem would be
positive beginnings of the United Nations' work programme in
the economic area.
35. Malaysia, as a primary commodities producer which is
also heavily dependent on exports of manufactured goods,
attaches great importance to the Uruguay Round of the
Multilateral Trade Negotiations. While the objective of the
Uruguay Round seeks to retain an open international trading
system and to promote increased trade liberalisation, we are
also concerned about the opposing trend of increasing
integration which brings about greater exclusion. It is our
hope therefore that the intentions of the European Economic
Community to achieve an integrated internal market by 1992
does not obstruct efforts under the U.N. auspices aimed at
greater trade liberalisation. To effectively maintain an
open and liberal international trading environment, the
developed countries in particular must curb domestic
pressures for protectionist policies which have historically
proven to by myopic, leading to distortions in trade and
stifling growth and expansion.
36. Aside from restraints on protectionist tendencies, the
world's trading nations must also agree on a more realistic
and broad-based action on their currency-realignment.
Agreements confined only to an exclusive group have proven
disastrous to the poorer nations whose currencies and small
trade advantages have been seriously affected. The
interests of the smaller nations are best served by their
representation at such gathering when issues which affect
them are taken up.
37. The debt crisis is debilitating for the affected
countries, diverting attention and energies away from
domestic political, economic and social needs. While the
crisis has deepened in the past year, we see hope in the
initiatives of some commercial banks to write-off their
loans and of governments which have converted some of their
official loans into outright grants. UNCTAD's proposal for
a thirty percent cut in commercial bad debts owed by the 15
most heavily indebted countries merits serious
considerations. The World Bank and the IMF must engage more
actively in the design and creation of a debt reconstruction
facility. Proposals abound, but the international community
must quickly study various modalities to relieve those
countries which are carrying impossible burdens. The United
Nations has provided the forum for detailed discussion on
the debt crisis and participated in the search for
solutions. Malaysia fully supports the United Nations'
efforts in this regard and endorses the recent
recommendations made by the Africa Recovery Review Committee
to substantially increase financial flows to Africa to
ensure reform and development.
Mr. President,
38. Two years ago during the 41st Session of this Assembly,
I spoke about the initiative of the developing countries to
set up an independent South Commission. The Commission has
since been set up to complement and supplement other efforts
in making a fresh and objective analysis of the formidable
economic, social and political challenges confronting the
developing countries and attempts to identify areas for
practical and mutually beneficial South-South cooperation.
It is heartening to note that since its inception in July
last year, the Commission has vigorously pursued the
responsibilities entrusted upon it.
39. The International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking held in Vienna in June 1987 brought home to the
138 participating countries the extent and seriousness of
the international drug problem. The seeming impotence of
the international community to combat the drug threat
brought the realisation that without the manifest political
will of nations to act, and to act in concert to counter the
drug problem, there can be no effective solution. Thus, the
adoption by ICDAIT of its political declaration and the
Comprehensive Multi Disciplinary Outline of Future
Activities, represent a collective struggle to eliminate
drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
40. Malaysia congratulates the U.N. and the
Secretary-General for this success and this important
beginning. The momentum created by ICDAIT last year must be
maintained. In this connection, Malaysia welcomes the
convening of the Plenipotentiary Conference on the New
Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances in Vienna from November to December
this year to adopt the new convention which will plug an
important loophole and provide for further action against
illicit drug traffickers.
Mr. President,
41. We are always concerned when there is extreme disparity
between rich and poor within any country. But in some
countries, there is no disparity. Everyone is just poor.
If we are asked to imagine what poverty is like in these
poor nations, we will find it extremely difficult to
visualise it accurately. But we need not imagine. Today we
see in colourful detail accompanied by sound and motion the
extent and horror of human poverty. We see living children
being literally devoured by flies. We see skeletons
hobbling around. We see people so ill that we wonder how
they survive at all.
42. Even if we have to spend billions on weapons, on
preserving the beauty of nature, the trees and the forests,
the rare insect species, and the other things that we claim
will enhance the quality of our life, we have no excuse in
this day and age to permit such misery to befall millions of
fellow humans.
43. The response of millions of ordinary people to the
appeals for aid to the suffering poor is laudable. But the
task is too big for ad hoc charitable efforts. The answer
would lie in a full time and fully manned authority to fight
against the scourge of poverty. This civilization of ours
will be condemned by posterity if we can put man on the moon
but we cannot give enough help to the needy on earth at only
a fraction of the cost.
44. Inequality is the bane of human society. Democracy
purportedly cherished by all, is associated with equality
and equitability. While governments are urged to be
democratic, in the affairs between nations democracy is
noticeably absent. In the community of nations, the
strongest and the richest take advantage of the weak and the
poor. There is no equality there.
45. This does not happen only in the economic sense but
also in the political sense. Ideologies and philosophies as
well as value systems are forced upon weak nations in the
name of democracy. As with fanatical religious
proselytisers, the so-called champions of democracy are not
averse to using undemocratic and coercive means to force
their particular brand of democracy on the weak and the
poor. Refusal to comply, results in all kinds of economic
and political arm-twisting.
46. Democracy must confer a freedom of choice. No one has
a monopoly on the democratic type that everyone should have.
Certainly, no one should force his own choice and
interpretation on someone else. While harsh and even
violent methods may be used to force dictatorship to yield
to democratic forces, it would be tragic if a working,
prosperous democratic nation is destroyed because some
self-appointed democrat felt it was not democratic enough.
This holier than thou attitude is out of tune with modern
mores.
47. The democracies of the West took hundreds of years in
the making. Do not expect colonial territories ruled
autocratically for several centuries by Western democracies
to become perfect democracies overnight.
Mr. President,
48. I have very confidence that this 43rd General Assembly
will prove to be deliberative and fruitful. The time and
circumstance have never been more propitious. Our
multilateral institution stands on a strong wave of
credibility. If we can be weary of war and strife, and be
ready to beat our swords into ploughshares, then we can
devote our collective energies to our economic and social
advancement. The next challenge, if more formidable, will
be the ability of this institution to grapple with the issue
of international economic asymmetry in the context of the
need for equitable resources management. It should be our
concerted purpose to ensure that the last decade before we
enter into the next millennium will be one of peace and
construction for the benefit of all.
I thank you, Mr. President.
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