Myanmar

U MYA THAN

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

AND

LEADER OF THE DELEGATION OF MYANMAR


TO THE TWENTY-FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
 UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENTITLED
 "WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND BEYOND:
 ACHIEVING SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL IN A
 GLOBALIZING WORLD"
GENEVA, 29 JUNE 2000


 Mr. President,

 Allow me to begin by extending our warmest congratulations on your unanimous election as the President of the twenty-fourth special session of the United Nations General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and Beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world." We are confident that you will be able to steer the proceedings of this august Assembly to a successful conclusion.


Mr. President,

 The draft texts of the Political Declaration and further actions and initiatives, now being considered by this Assembly, can be summarized in three prepositions:


- We should achieve sustainable economic development and poverty eradication, by fulfilling the targets set by the World Social Summit.

- We should step up the social development, supported by the sustainable economic development, by fulfilling the targets set by the World Social Summit.

- We should ensure that the centre of the economic and social development is the people and their well-being, including food security, primary health care and basic education.

In order to achieve these goals, actions are required at two levels, national and international.

Mr. President,
First, allow me to apprise this august Assembly briefly of a few selected instances of our national endeavours to achieve these lofty goals in Myanmar.

Mr. President,
Through the implementation of our four national economic objectives, Myanmar is making steady and sustained progress in terms of economic development and poverty alleviation.

The Short Term Four-Year Plan from 1992-93 to 1995-96 was a success, registering an average annual GDP growth rate of 7.5 per cent against
the targeted rate of 5.1 per cent. Despite the spillover effect of the Asian financial crisis, Myanmar was able to maintain the annual GDP growth rate at 4.6 per cent in 1997-98. By 1998-99, Myanmar's economy had bounced back, registering annual GDP growth rate of 5.7 per cent. Myanmar's annual GDP growth rate has reached a high point by registering 10.9 per cent in the current financial year 1999-2000.

With a view to laying down a firm foundation for economic development and enhancing the political, economic and social life of the people, the Myanmar Government has undertaken infrastructure building on an unprecedented scale.

The Government has completed from 1988 to date, 110 bridges including 5 Ayeyarwady River-crossing bridges, 110 dams, 43 hospitals, 79 dispensaries, 350 primary schools, 46 secondary schools, 11 high schools and 3700 miles of road, to mention just a few statistics.

The Government's economic development strategy is peoplecentered, and is aimed at the alleviation and eventually eradication of poverty in rural areas, particularly in the less developed border areas.

One of the most important programmes as well as one of the top priority national tasks, being implemented by the Government in Myanmar at present, is the programme for the development of national races in the border areas. From 1988 to 1999, the Government has spent a total of Kyats 17122.37 million ( approximately US$ 2.85 billion) on this programme. As a result, poverty and backwardness are now giving way to economic prosperity and socioeconomic development in border areas which had been neglected until recently since Myanmar regained her independence in 1948. In parallel to the border areas development programme, a drug eradication programme has also been energetically and effectively implemented in the border areas.

Consequently, national races in the border areas of Myanmar are enjoying higher level of socio-economic development, higher living standards and happier life as they have never experienced before.

Mr. President,
As regards the drug problem, Myanmar is indeed a country in the forefront of war against illicit drugs. The determination, commitment and sacrifice by Myanmar in combating the menace of illicit drugs are now increasingly recognized by the international community. Just to cite one example, Myanmar has sacrificed the lives of 716 Members of the Armed Forces in military operations to interdict drug traffickers.
Mr. President,
The greatest challenge facing mankind today is economic development and poverty eradication. In a globalizing world today, poverty anywhere can jeopardize prosperity everywhere.

According to the UNDP Poverty Report, the people living under the poverty line throughout the world was estimated at 1.2 billion in 1998. It is, therefore, imperative that urgent and effective measures be taken to eradicate poverty in the developing countries and to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Globalization presents us with both enormous challenges and great opportunities. While preventive measure's must be taken to neutralize its negative effects, we must accentuate the positive and take advantage of the vast possibilities offered by it to facilitate our economic and social development.

Mr. President,
Our programme of actions at the international level should effectively address the crucial issues such as debt relief, the improved market access for developing countries and international assistance for economic development and poverty eradication in these countries.

Undoubtedly, capacity-building for developing countries is of crucial importance. This is also an area where international assistance is very much needed.

Mr. President,
We cannot achieve the objectives in our programme of actions, with a world half poor and half rich, half developing and half developed.

We must not rest with our present laurels.

We must not slacken, but we must sustain and step up the momentum of our efforts to realize our shared vision of a "better world" where economic prosperity and social justice and social harmony shall prevail.

I thank you, Mr. President.