ADDRESS

by H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov,

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,

at the Millenium Summit of the United Nations

(September 8, 2000)

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Chairmen,

Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to express my appreciation for the opportunity to speak at the Millennium Summit and focus on the issues that, in our opinion, acquire principle importance in the context of the key problems in the era of globalization being discussed in the current forum.

On the threshold of a new century the problem of international security and stability remains one of the fundamental problems of the contemporary world. The single difference is that instead of remnants and set-backs of the Cold War, international terrorism and extremism, aggressive nationalism and separatism occupy the proscenium as dangerous detonators undermining peace and stability.

Uzbekistan completely supports the principle of indivisibility of security as one of the basic UN’s principles.

Nowadays, it is quite obvious that there is no and cannot be a comprehensive international security without achieving security of regions and national security of individual states.

Those who intend to create a sort of exclusive or closed security belt, trying to fence themselves from ostensibly “alien” problems, whether it refers to Europe, America or other sub-regions, are far from the real state of things as the world today is closely interrelated and indivisible.

Wars, conflicts and confrontations which sustain in the certain region or state in the course of time, and this is re-affirmed by the life itself, without fail go beyond these bounds and acquire cross-border and transnational character, dragging into crucible of these conflicts more and more new territories and powers.

One can witness this in the example of the Central Asian region which is at present becoming a target for expansion and aggression of the forces of international terrorism and extremism, nurturing the far-reaching ends aimed at reversing the states of this region from the ultimately chosen road of democratic and secular development as well as at establishing in their place the clerical and despotic regimes.

There is no need to prove that the war in Afghanistan that has been continuing for already more than twenty years stands as a principal source of this threat; as Afghanistan has turned nowadays into a training ground and hotbed of international terrorism and extremism and become the main source, a warehouse of the world drug production that brings gains worth of billions of dollars and feeds international terrorism.

The areas bordering with Afghanistan, and in the first instance, the states of Central Asia are being turned into one of the shortest and most suitable routs – corridors for transporting hundreds tons of heroin mainly to the countries of Europe and North America.

Through this example we may evidently see the coalescence of the two monstrous phenomena of our time – international terrorism and narcotic business.

From this high rostrum, I would like to address the UN, the UN Security Council and international community and say: the continuing war in Afghanistan stands as a threat to security of not only the states of the Central Asian region, but this is also a threat to the whole world.

We should do our utmost in order to secure the earliest peaceful settlement of the Afghan problem and help the long-suffering Afghan people to reach a long-expected peace in their land.

Extending our support to any initiatives targeted at stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan, I would like to stress that the Tashkent Declaration on Fundamental Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict in Afghanistan adopted in July, 1999 by the member-states of 6+2 Group set up under the UN aegis, still retains its urgency and may lay a practical ground for a negotiation process between the main rival parties.

Along with the political measures taken in the framework of the UN, it is high time to draft an extensive program of a peaceful post-conflict rehabilitation of Afghanistan, its economic and humanitarian revival.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Referring to the issues related to urgency and critical value of reinforcing the world community’s struggle against the growing threat of international terrorism, Uzbekistan welcomes the proposal of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to hold in 2000 an International Conference on Counter-Terrorism within the UN’s framework.

I am confident that through the joint efforts we will be able to combat terrorism and extremism only in case we launch the fight against not only its demonstrations, but also, primarily, against those international centers that possess big financial and other capacities, mobilize, direct and provide terrorists with the most up-dated means and arms.

It is even hard to imagine the situation in the world, if these forces obtain an access to the mortal means of chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction.

In this respect it is getting important to ensure not in words, but in practice the agreement of the G8 to eliminate the financial sources for terrorist activity.

From this rostrum, I would like to call you to support the Uzbekistan initiative set forward in the OSCE Istanbul Summit on establishing an International Counter-Terrorism Center within the UN system.

Uzbekistan advocates a strict and unconditional fulfillment of the international regime of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament by all states. Without this, one can hardly speak about maintaining strategic stability neither on global, nor on the regional levels.

All these redouble the importance of the Uzbekistan initiative on creating a nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia and require its soonest international legitimization. We highly appreciate the efforts of UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan to support the activity of the regional experts group working over completion of the regional draft Treaty on nuclear weapon free zone.

Dear participants of the Forum,

Focusing on the entire complex of regional problems, one cannot pass over the issues of ecological security and environment.

I have repeatedly reiterated on the problems of the Aral Sea basin both in the UN and other international forums. The Aral crisis in its scales have come out the frames of the Central Asian region; it has grown to the problem of global importance; its pernicious influence is tangible in changing climate and biological balance; it has negative effect on people’s health and the genetic fund of future generations.

I believe that today there is no need to persuade and prove to anyone how dangerous and unpredictable the implications of the dying Aral Sea on Europe and other areas of the planet may be; and to what results the indifference towards this problem may well lead.

In order to promote international co-operation in the field of ecological security and enroll finances of international institutions and donor countries, I would like to propose to set up a Council on the Problems of Aral and its Basin under the auspices of the UN Environment Program.

Mr. and Mrs. Chairmen,

The current challenges and risks require dynamic adaptation of the entire UN system and mechanisms to the complicated realities and perspectives and elaboration of the new approaches to such issues as safeguarding peace, security and stability. We understand the UN reform, first of all, as accomplishing a set of measures to enhance its role and significance in tackling regional and global problems.

In this context, in our opinion, we think it is necessary:

Firstly, to conduct a phased, gradual reforms of the UN Security Council. The number of its permanent members should be increased both at the expense of the developed and developing countries. It is expedient to increase the number of both permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council.

As the first step in this course we propose Germany and Japan to be included to the permanent membership of the Security Council, as these countries play a significant role in international affairs and, moreover, these states at present stand as the main sponsors of the UN activities as well as numerous humanitarian and charity projects and programs;

Secondly, with an objective to make the reaction to the global and regional challenges more operative and effective, we suggest to expand the authority of Secretary General;

Thirdly, to strengthen the role and responsibility of the Security Council in prevention of military conflicts, efficient application of instruments and mechanisms for peaceful settlement of confrontations and disputes, in particular, through application of the so-called mechanism of “forging peace” in the course of settling the long-term conflicts.

In conclusion allow me to congratulate the Summit Chairmen, His Excellency Mr. Sam Nujoma, President of the Republic of Namibia and Her Excellency Mrs. Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, on their election to this demanding post. I am convinced that our Summit will be successful.

Thank you for your attention.