Summit
Presidents,
Your
Majesties,
Your
Excellencies,
Secretary-General.
Sixteen
years ago, I had the honour of addressing this
assembly for the first time when my country was admitted to the United Nations.
It
was a different period of world history. The Cold War then divided the world along
ideological lines and the threat of a
nuclear holocaust was real. The smaller developing countries were particularly vulnerable.
They were used as pawns in the global chess game.
Brunei
Darussalam was one such country. We were determined not to be drawn in.
In
the United Nations, we found shelter and assurance. It provided a forum where all member
states' sovereignty would be respected, and where all nations, large and small, would have
an equal voice and one vote. The UN Charter gave small nations like my own, a sense of hope
and security.
For
the last sixteen years, Brunei Darussalam has participated in the UN as a full member of
the international community of nations. We have strongly supported the UN's role in
international affairs. We have done what we could to promote the principles and processes
of the UN Charter.
Despite
our small size, we have provided equipment and participated in UN peace-keeping
operations.
We
are committed to continuing this within the limits of our resources.
The
post-Cold War era has brought new challenges. Globalisation, the result of the revolution
in information technology, will break down traditional barriers and borders. Dynamic and
powerful forces are at work that will increase economic cooperation and accelerate growth
and development. This can lead to improving quality of life, higher standards of living
and greater opportunities for all. The benefits are great.
But
there are downsides to globalisation. With increased movement across borders,
transnational crime and terrorism have become serious problems.
The
disparity between North and South continues to grow as the poorer nations struggle to keep
pace with the first world. Globalisation could lead to the marginalisation of the
developing and less developed countries if they do not adjust themselves to maximise its
benefits.
There
can be no going back to the past. As we begin the 21st century, we should
examine and address the negative effects of globalisation.
These
are challenges that go beyond the ability of individual governments to tackle.
In
the 21st century, the United Nations' role is crucial as the conscience of the world to
balance the interests of the successful and the less successful nations in the New
Economies of globalisation. It is a conscience that needs to moderate the results of the
winner-takes-all paradigm of free-market competition.
Brunei
Darussalam faces many of the same challenges as the developing nations of Asia, Africa and
Latin America. To meet them, a country needs to adapt and respond quickly to an uncertain
and constantly changing external environment. To do this, its most important resource -
its people - needs to be equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to give it a
fighting chance.
I
would therefore stress the crucial importance of programmes on health and education. They
play a crucial role in helping the development of many of the poorer and less developed
countries. By investing in the future of the people of these countries, we will lay the
solid foundation upon which these countries' futures can be constructed.
We
should do so not merely out of a sense of moral obligation. The survival and progress of
the less developed members of the international community is in our best interest.
As
globalisation makes our world ever more interdependent, it is becoming increasingly
difficult to separate ourselves from events that occur beyond our immediate regions. There
are few matters that are local problems anymore.
This
point was brought home in 1997 by the far-reaching effects of the financial crisis that
swept through Southeast Asia.
We
cannot have a world in which
the
Knowledge-based Economies are racing along the information highway while the less
developed countries are lagging behind and struggling with disease, famine and poverty.
The best way to ensure a stable international order is to provide developing and less
developed countries with knowledge and opportunities for economic, social and
technological advancement.
This
will require renewed commitment from all members of the UN. It would entail a far greater
responsibility than we have taken on thus far. This can be achieved if we all come
together in a concerted effort. I therefore appeal to all members of the international
community to accept this responsibility.
As
we begin a new century and a new millennium, let us make every effort to achieve global
peace, freedom, tolerance and prosperity in our time.
We
must allow the United Nations to concentrate its energies on the world as we would all
like to see it.
This,
I believe, would be the greatest tribute we could offer you, Secretary General, and all
those who had served the United Nations in the last half century.
Co-Presidents,
Mr.
Secretary-General,
Fellow
Members,
Thank
you for allowing me this opportunity to address you, and to share some of my thoughts on
the direction and future of our organisation.
Thank
you.