MONGOLIA
ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. NATSAGIIN BAGABANDI PRESIDENT OF MONGOLIA TO THE 58TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 29
September 2003, New York
Mr. President, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, May I extend my
heartfelt congratulations on your unanimous election as President of
the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly and express
my confidence that under your able stewardship this session will successfully
accomplish For the 58 years-old United Nations, which has throughout been working for the maintenance of international peace and security, promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and fostering development and progress, the passing year has proved to be a challenging period. Moreover, we feel deeply concerned that the United Nations and its staff members, who dedicate their lives to helping peoples and countries affected by wars and armed conflicts have turned into targets of terrorist acts. But it is our earnest belief that the noble mission of the late Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Sergio de Mello and other UN staff members who lost their precious lives, while helping and assisting the people of Iraq, will not be in vain. At the Millennium Summit held at the turn of a new century the world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and proclaimed their firm resolve to work together toward a more efficient and revitalized United Nations. However, the emergence of a complex international situation and its subsequent developments cast into doubt the ability of the United Nations to develop a fast and adequate response to international crises, to maintain international peace and security, to prevent armed conflicts, to resolve pressing issues in war-torn countries and effectively assist them in building national reconciliation and reconstruction. And even more so, the relevance of the United Nations itself has been put into question. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to reaffirm anew at the highest level our shared commitment to implement the Millennium Development Goals unanimously adopted at the Summit and to reiterate the importance of enhancing the role of multilateralism and the United Nations in addressing the formidable challenges of the 21St century. Mongolia has consistently supported the United Nations as the singular world organization to serve the interests of its member States and as a principal instrument of multilateral cooperation given its underlying purposes and principles as well as its universal representation. Mongolia stands for a reformed and revitalized United Nations adapted to the evolving international realities, for its enhanced role and greater involvement in all areas pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security, resolution of pressing economic and social issues and promotion of sustainable development. As its practical contribution to UN peacekeeping operations Mongolia endeavors to provide the relevant personnel to its various missions and supports the efforts to make peace-building missions more effective with an increased emphasis on preventive diplomacy. While emphasizing the increasing importance of ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel engaged in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions my delegation fully endorses the additional measures recently adopted by the Security Council to this effect. Mongolia has signed the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and associated personnel and intends to ratify it in the near future. My delegation shares the concern over the slow pace of the reform process of the United Nations initiated by the Secretary-General a few years ago. Hence, we believe that there is an urgent need to speed up the reform through identifying innovative approaches so that the United Nations and its Security Council are able to effectively address the challenges ahead. Mongolia reiterates its support 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, reviewing the veto power, democratizing working methods of the Security Council through enhancing the openness and transparency of its work. We support the proposal of the SecretaryGeneral to establish a High-Level Panel of eminent personalities entrusted with a mandate of conducting a comprehensive analysis of evolving challenges and ways of strengthening the United Nations. Mr. President, Some are portraying the contours of today's world as unipolar. Others are challenging it arguing for a multi-polar world. It seems unreasonable to seek to command the humankind and patterns of its existence under any particular roof or leadership, or try to rip it to different directions. In today's world characterized by globalization and interdependence, it has become increasingly evident that despite divergent views we all live in one global village, breath the same air, and share a common future. Mutual understanding and cooperation are becoming the order of the day rather than divisions or fragmentation, marginalization or discrimination. Indeed, the contemporary human philosophy teaches us not to alienate and estrange but rather interact and align with one another. Mr. President, In addition to the traditional threats emanating from proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the spread of missile technology and inter-and-intra-state conflicts, the non-traditional threats, including terrorism, organized crime, illegal drug trafficking, scarcity of drinking water, environmental pollution and global climate change are having adverse effects on regional and international security. As a state party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, conventions banning chemical and biological weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, Mongolia deems it important to ensure their universality, to address the disarmament issues in a comprehensive manner, to further reduce all types of weapons, to bring the Conference on Disarmament out of its ongoing impasse and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms of the relevant multilateral treaties and agreements. As a nuclear-weapon-free
country, Mongolia actively supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free
zones in other parts of the world. Mongolia believes that nuclear-weapon
states should provide security guarantees to non-nuclear-weapon states
and states-parties to the NPT and supports the conclusion of a multilateral
treaty Mongolia fully supports the efforts being undertaken by the international community to revive the Middle East peace process and implement the Road Map and stands in favour of establishing a just and durable peace in the region on the basis of ensuring the legitimate interests of the parties concerned. Mongolia shares the concern of other nations over the precarious situation and continued loss of lives in Iraq despite the termination of major combat operations. Mongolia stands for an increased role and involvement of the United Nations in restoring peace and stability in Iraq and providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. Mr. President, With rapid advance of globalisation and technological breakthroughs we deem it important to create an enabling environment for all countries, especially the weak, small and vulnerable economies to equally benefit from globalisation and to offer support and assistance on the part of the international community to these countries in their social and economic development and enhance global partnership for development. The recent years have been marked by an increased emphasis on social and development issues, thus resulting in a host of international conferences on sustainable development, financing for development and food security all organized under the aegis of the United Nations. The speedy implementation at the national, regional and international levels of the decisions set forth at the social summits as well as the goals agreed by the Millennium Summit, Monterrey, Johannesburg and Rome has become the top priority of the world community. The recent Cancun Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation has revealed the complexity of the process leading to a new round of talks on the Doha Development Agenda. Growing development disparity between haves and have-nots, increasing poverty and unemployment in the developing world, in particular the least developed countries, spread of HIV/AIDS, debt burden and trade inequalities and further aggravation of such pressing issues remain our immediate cause of concern. It cannot be ignored that underdevelopment, poverty and social inequality could serve as a breeding ground for confrontations and armed conflicts. Hence, it has become imperative for the international community to display genuine solidarity and shared responsibility for our common good. International cooperation is crucial in effectively addressing environmental challenges, including natural disasters, global climate change, air and water pollution and desertification. In this respect, small and poor nations warrant greater attention and support. Mongolia commends
the outcome of the first International Ministerial Conference on Transit
Transport Cooperation held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in August this year
under the auspices of the United Nations. We consider that timely and
expeditious Mr. President, Fifty-five years have elapsed since the adoption by this august Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The relevance of this fundamental document has stood the test of time as its underlying ideals have been enshrined in both international treaties and conventions and national legislation, thus becoming the universal norms of the humankind. The ideas of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been intimately reflected in the 1992 Constitution of Mongolia and my country is firmly pursuing policies to consolidate democracy and to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. Thirteen years ago Mongolia irreversibly embarked on the road to democracy and has endeavored to make its own contribution to the cause of promoting democratic ideals. Early this month Mongolia hosted the Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, which resulted in the adoption of the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and Plan of Action. Over 600 delegates from 119 countries, a host of international organizations and non-governmental organizations participated in the Conference thoroughly discussing and sharing experiences on a wide range of issues under the main theme of "Democracy, Good Governance and Civil Society". It is gratifying to note that the Conference has successfully completed its ambitious agenda. My delegation will actively collaborate with others in ensuring an effective follow-up on the implementation of the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and the Plan of Action at national, regional and international levels. The State and Government of Mongolia is pursuing an open and multi-pillar foreign policy and undertaking specific measures to consolidate the democratic reforms with a view to ensuring human centered development and human security, promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, fostering political and economic stability and achieving sustained economic growth. Mr. President, In conclusion, may I express my confidence that this session of the General Assembly will be crowned by productive deliberations of the pressing issues before the international community and result in sound decisions that would contribute to strengthening international peace and security, and advancing social progress and development. In this context, you may rest assured of the continued support and full collaboration of my delegation.
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