Permanent Mission of

the Kyrgyz Republic to

the United Nations

Statement by H.E. Mr. Muratbek Imanaliev,

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic

at the Millennium Summit

New York, September 8, 2000

Distinguished Presidents,

Distinguished Secretary-General,

Distinguished Heads of State and Government,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have been waiting impatiently for the opening of the 55th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which is proclaimed as the Millennium Assembly.

It was expected that the discussions would be about the future of mankind. Today's discussions are about the future, which depends on us. It is highly desirable that the long-term positive results and favorable consequences for all people should flow from the ideas and recommendations of this Global Forum.

My compatriots are impressed by the concepts and concrete proposals of the Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Kofi Annan, contained in his report "We, the peoples: the role of the United Nations in the 21st century ". We also agree with his point that the "Millennium Summit gives to the world leaders an unprecedented opportunity to reconstruct the United Nations in harmony with the tasks of the 21st century."

The United Nations always has been and continues to be a unique global forum which, by virtue of its universal character and historic agreements needs to widen its mandate of solving the vital issues of peace and security maintenance, motivation and stimulation of development, mobilization of the international community's necessary efforts in order to combat future challenges and threats.

Indeed, the globalization process has both positive and negative features. With any new system, anxieties are bound to a rise, especially by people who feel oppressed by this process. The main role in preventing this anxiety should belong to the United Nations.

These are some of the reasons why the Kyrgyz Republic moves for increasing the overall effectiveness of the United Nations, which should be a results-oriented organization. We conceive the United Nations as an organization with a more perfect management and a well-ordered structure thus better prepared to cope with both humanitarian and political crises.

We also understand and support the universal and effective reform of the United Nations, including the expansion of the Security Council in both its categories. Reforms should be made on a well-grounded and sound basis respectful of all the bodies of the United Nations, which have proved already their vitality.

Distinguished Presidents,

The strategy of Kyrgyzstan's participation in worldwide affairs is a safe and friendly coexistence with all countries. This proceeds from the idea of the interdependence of the world, mutually beneficial and equal activities of all the countries and people which is the basis for President Askar Akaev's "Silk Road Diplomacy" doctrine.

The concept of the restoration of the "Silk Road " is the formative idea of a wide-range of active historical processes be based on a universal and creative dynamic inherent in human need. The implementation of this concept is impossible without the strengthening of friendly, trusting, fruitful relationships among all states and not only the Great Silk Road. This concept might be possibly implemented only on the basis of everybody's access to all the achievements of the human civilization.

Our vision of the "Silk Road" restoration process is the formation of a new culture of peace, a new culture of the Human existence in a pure environment with the absence of suffering, hunger, poverty and illiteracy.

We are trying to implement large projects, which include a uniform transport system with access to external markets and the creation of a modem communication systems. This is especially important for Central Asia, which is located far from sea routes but, nevertheless, has real potential to become a most powerful source for economic development.

I would also like to support those provisions of the Secretary General's report, addressing the issues of the building "digital bridges". It is obvious, that the vast progress in computer science and telecommunications has changed radically our world view. The need to prevent the threat of information breaks between countries is one of the most important issues. Giving attention to this issue, Kyrgyzstan, together with some other countries, has started to develop the telecommunication project "SILKSAT". The purpose of this project is the optimal entry facilitation of the countries of the Great Silk Road into the global telecommunications system.

We believe, that the active integration of the Central-Asian region into the world economy can make it a center of great economic development, giving priority to an open-mindedness, and free movement of goods, capital and people. This allows for equal development under democracy and the real well-being of all.

In this regard, the concept, as offered by President Askar Akaev, is considered Kyrgyzstan's rich and organically structured contribution to the flow of the remarkable and useful ideas brought forward by the many state leaders. These ideas specifically focus on

· serious renewal and reconstruction of political and economic relationships,

· reduction of the gap between rich and poor countries,

· eradication of hunger and diseases,

· guarantee of the just and prosperous future of new generations.

Distinguished Presidents,

On the threshold of the third millennium, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central-Asian states has encountered various threats, such as international terrorism and religious extremism. Terrorism most often accompanied by illegal drug and weapon trafficking. These factors represent a real and serious danger to stability and security but not only for our region.

These actions should be seen for what they are - part of the global plan of international terrorism with the express purpose of destabilization of wide region.

There is the conviction in Kyrgyzstan that no individual country can cope on its own with this evil. Collective measures are necessary to overcome these problems. Terrorism has ceased to be a problem of any one state but represents a threat to the whole global community.

That is why the efforts of our countries should be supported by the international community as the leaders of Central-Asian countries have repeatedly declared. And the role of the United Nations and the Security Council in this process is most important. My country will actively support, in the first instance, the creation of an international system of measures for controlling terrorism and other forms of extremism.

I would like to bring special attention to Afghanistan. The people of this country continue to suffer many burdens, violence and death. Moreover, this country became a source of terrorism, drug trafficking, and myriad other problems.

Supporting efforts undertaken by the United Nations, Kyrgyzstan also welcomes other useful initiatives and expresses the hope that effective measures on the radical improvement of Afghanistan conditions will be undertaken.

In our turn, we express our sincere desire to promote the prompt establishment of peace in Afghanistan and stability in the region as a whole. Accordingly, the Kyrgyz Republic confirms its readiness to provide its territory for holding a peace conference on Afghanistan under the auspices of the UN.

Distinguished Presidents,

We all agree that a dialog and desire to solve jointly all our common issues is far better than conflicts and wars. That is absolutely true.

During the last OSCE Summit, held in Istanbul in November, 1999, the President of Kyrgyzstan put forward the idea of organizing a "forum - dialogue" between the OSCE and the Organization of the Islamic Conference on matters of security, peace and sustainable development. Kyrgyzstan recognizes that the "forum - dialogue" could promote the development of mechanisms for joint opposition to threats and challenges which the states of an extensive world region now face. The "forum-dialogue" will strengthen mutual understanding and respect among peoples, and will continue a fruitful dialogue among various civilizations.

Distinguished Presidents,

The Kyrgyz Republic believes that the Millennium Summit represents a unique opportunity not only for the discussion of the problems facing us, but the opportunity to adopt the right program of action.

One can only understand the journey by embarking on it.

Thank you, Distinguished Presidents.