UNITED
NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Speech
by Dr. Han Seung-soo, President of the General Assembly
at a Dinner hosted by the OSCE
24 June 2002
Ambassadors, colleagues
and friends,
It is a great honor to be invited to meet with all of you at this gathering. I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to the OSCE for hosting this dinner in my honor.
The OSCE and the United Nations have worked closely together in pursuit of our common objectives of resolving conflicts. In this regard, the OSCE has been an active observer at the United Nations General Assembly since 1993.
As you all know,
the accelerating globalization and revolutionary advances in communication
and information technology have brought about dramatic changes in the
way people and nations live. As countries have experienced a deepening
interdependence through globalization, they have come to increasingly
recognize the need for closer coordination and cooperation.
This is especially the case in areas that relate to security, above all, such new security threats as terrorism, environmental degradation, and illegal migration. These new challenges underscore the importance of a common response from the international community.
The events of September 11 dramatically emphasized that no country was immune to terrorism, that political violence in the 21st century knew no national boundaries, and that nations should make common cause if they are to stop the terrorists and uproot their infrastructure. Even before September 11 and more so afterwards, the OSCE has responded to this growing challenge by expanding its cooperative ties with countries and organizations in other regions.
The OSCE plays an essential role in maintaining the peace and security of Europe. Since its creation by the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, the organization has forged a stable security environment in Europe by promoting "comprehensive security". The OSCE has greatly enriched the regional and global discourse on a wide range of security issues, including confidence-building and disarmament.
It has also assisted the spread of democracy and market economy throughout Europe to advance the values of human rights and economic development. In doing so, the OSCE has forged a successful model for multilateral security cooperation, a model that other regions can emulate and learn from.
I believe that Northeast Asia, in particular, would do very well to study the model of the OSCE. Though ideological rivalries have greatly diminished in this region, there still exist tensions - particularly on the Korean Peninsula - that make Northeast Asia a potential flashpoint of instability. An organization similar to the OSCE could be very helpful in defusing those tensions and in building regional cooperation.
In this regard, I
would like to ask you to join me in a toast to the future development
of OSCE and closer cooperative relations between the United Nations and
OSCE. Thank you.