Esteemed Mr.
President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
May I extend my
heartfelt congratulations on your unanimous election as President of the Millennium Summit
and express my confidence that under your able stewardship this Summit will successfully
accomplish its mission aimed at reshaping the world Organization so that it can adequately
meet the formidable challenges of the new century and, indeed, of the new millennium.
Mongolia
views this unprecedented gathering of world leaders as an event of historic importance
which offers us a unique opportunity to reaffirm our faith in the United Nations and to
formulate our shared vision on how to collectively address the pressing challenges, both
existing and emerging. The United Nations has throughout manifested its undisputed
authority in identifying ways and means to address major global problems. Yet, the need to
reform and adapt the United Nations to the evolving international realities with a view to
ensuring its efficient functioning in the era of globalization appears to have been
universally recognized. Some important steps to this end have already been taken. However,
the reform process, particularly the Security Council reform tends to turn slow and hence,
there is an apparent need to take proper measures aimed at speeding it up. Mongolia stands
for a just and equitable enlargement of the Security Council by increasing the number of
permanent and non-permanent seats and ensuring representation of both developing and
developed countries, for democratization of international relations through enhancing the
openness and transparency of the work of the Security Council and through raising the role
of the United Nations General Assembly as envisaged in the United Nations Charter.
In carrying
out its activities aimed at maintaining international peace and security the United
Nations ought to give priority to preventive diplomacy, especially in the matters
pertaining to international and internal disputes and conflicts. In this respect,: further
enhancement of the relevant international mechanisms appears to be crucial. Furthermore,
ensuring the universality of international instruments on disarmament, crime prevention,
human rights, environment and other fields requires further collaborative efforts and a
strong display of political will of all the stake-holders.
Mr.
President,
As the
Secretary-General Kofi Annan rightly pinpoints in his Millennium Report the central
challenge the world faces today is to ensure that the globalization becomes a positive
force for all the human family. Today, ideas of globality not only pervade the language of
politicians, economists and researchers the world over, globalization as a reality has
generated a host of multifaceted challenges beyond the reach of a single nation.
It has become more
evident that along with greater opportunities globalization has created situations of
heightened vulnerability and all the more so for
the weak and poor nations, thus leading
to their further marginalization. The question is how to manage the inevitable process of
globalization, so that it incorporates human dimension in its seemingly unruly trends.
Mongolia believes that with its impartiality and universal legitimacy as well as its
Charter-based prevailance over any other international
agreement, the United Nations is uniquely placed to provide an overarching general
guidance to the process of globalization so that its benefits could be enjoyed by all,
especially by the small states. No matter how liberal the world economy is becoming, it is
a matter of fact that many developing countries found themselves handicapped to enjoy the
fruits of global liberalization. And if a developing country is a small nation with
additional handicaps, say land-lockedness, the situation turns even worse and could be
termed as "triple-burdened". Therefore, it is our considered view that countries
in a disadvantaged location, facing specific difficulties and serious constraints in their
development efforts need closer attention and support on the part of the international
community. Proceeding from this premise, Mongolia has circulated as an official document
of the United Nations the Memorandum of its Government on how to enhance the role of the
United Nations in promoting the security interests of small states. We would appreciate
inputs and support of the other members regarding our initiative.
Mr.
President,
Mongolia
fully shares the Secretary-General's call that we, the Member States, must spare no effort
to make the United Nations a more effective instrument in pursuing the triple-tier freedom
as identified in the Millennium Report. The honourable mission of ensuring human security
and promoting human-centered development should remain high on the agenda of the world
Organization. As a recognition of the crucial role of education in human development
Mongolia reiterates its conviction in the need to launch a United Nations Literacy Decade
to marshall strong political will and determination towards ensuring a life-long education
for all. As a country with extremely low population density, weak infrastructure and high
susceptibility to natural disasters, Mongolia strongly supports the Secretary-General's
proposals to establish a health inter-network with 10000 on-line sites in developing
countries to provide access to up-to-date medical information, and to ensure reliable and
fast communications in disaster-stricken areas.
Mr.
President,
Over the
last decade Mongolia has developed democratic institutions in the political, economic and
social spheres, promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and pursuing an open and
multi-pillared foreign policy. The newly
formed Parliament and Government of Mongolia, following the results of the general
elections held last July, are resolved to vigorously pursue the programme of action
designed to revive and encourage national economy, ensure sustained economic growth,
upgrade the living standards of the people, reduce poverty and unemployment in close
cooperation with the international community.
Mr.
President,
In
conclusion, may I express my confidence that our Summit will yield a common strategy for
the world community to collectively work in the new century towards a safer, more
equitable and prosperous future on the basis of the specific recommendations contained in
the Millennium Report as well as those expressed by the high dignitaries gathered here.
Thank you
for your attention.
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