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DOCUMENT No.18
President Pervez Musharraf's Speech at the United
Nations General Assembly's 59th Session
On September 22, 2004, President Pervez Musharraf addressed the
59th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Presented
below is the full text of his speech:
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Allow me to extend our warm felicitations on your election as
the President of the General Assembly. We congratulate H.E. Mr. Julian Hunte
for his successful stewardship of the 58th Session of the Assembly. I also
reaffirm our deep appreciation for the wise leadership of the Secretary
General, H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, and his services for the cause of peace and
progress in the world.
Mr. President,
A profound transformation is underway in international
relations. The dangerous balances of the Cold War have been replaced by the
complex and equally dangerous realities of our world today. It is a world
marked by intensifying globalization – of economies, production, trade and
information, on one side, and terrorist violence, poverty and disease, on the
other.
The growing asymmetries in power among States, discrimination
in the dispensation of international justice, repression of peoples'
legitimate aspirations, and growing socio-economic disparities, have
precipitated "new threats" to international peace and security: The threat of
terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and imploding States.
The world today sees turmoil and upheaval everywhere – especially in the Third
World and more specifically in the Muslim World. Too many fronts have been
opened, too many battle lines drawn. The time for closing fronts has come. The
world today is crying for peace, reconciliation and reform. Our objective
today has to be harmony through reconciliation and accommodation, globally and
regionally.
Mr. President,
Terrorism poses the most urgent threat to many countries,
including the most powerful States. For many of us, the terrorist threat is
close and personal. Terrorism threatens Pakistan's vital national interests
and objectives. We have thus participated actively in the unprecedented global
campaign against it. Pakistan has led the way in this campaign. Our
counter-terrorist campaign is ongoing.
The global cooperation against Terrorism has been highly
successful. Determined and collective action has contained and disrupted the
violent agendas of the terrorists. We are winning the battle against
terrorists. However, what we are doing is insufficient to win the ultimate war
against them. The immediate anti-terrorist response has to be accompanied by a
clear, long-term strategy striking at the root of the problem if we are to
ensure final success against this scourge..
Mr. President,
I had proposed the two pronged strategy of Enlightened
Moderation to overcome terrorism and prevent a clash of civilizations. The
last Islamic Summit in Malaysia endorsed this plan which involves, on the one
hand, internal socio-economic reform in the Muslim world and, on the other,
active support from the major powers to ensure political justice and
socio-economic revival for all Islamic peoples. While the Islamic World has
taken its first step in the form of nominating a Commission of Eminent Persons
to propose measures for a Renaissance in the Muslim World, the major powers of
the West have yet to show movement, by seriously trying, to resolve
internationally recognized disputes affecting the Muslim world.
The industrialized world must support the endeavour for an
Islamic renaissancee specially through adequate financial and technical
assistance and larger trade opportunities. Most importantly, justice must be
offered to Islamic peoples in the form of resolution of all outstanding
international disputes which affect Muslims. There is no time to lose. Action
has to be taken before an iron curtain finally descends between the West and
the Islamic World.
Mr. President,
The tragedy of Palestine is an open wound inflicted on the
psyche of every Muslim. It generates anger and resentment across the Islamic
World. Continued Israeli violence and erection of the illegal separation wall
by them, usurping more Palestinian land, as well a suicide attacks by
misguided Palestinians, are frustrating the prospects of peace and prolonging
the agony of the Palestinian people. While Pakistan stands for peace
–recognizing the right of Israel to exist, as also the right of the
Palestinians to have their own homeland, we can never accept the usurpation of
additional Palestinian land. Israel has no right to erect its separation wall
beyond its 1967 boundaries. Pakistan calls on Israel to withdraw the wall from
all occupied Palestinian lands, taking it back to the pre-1967boundaries.We
also call on Israel to stop the daily atrocities against Palestinians.
Pakistan also call on President Yasser Arafat to use his influence to
reciprocally halt the Intifada and give peace a chance. A major responsibility
rests with the Quartet, and in particular with the world's greatest power, to
secure a fair and peaceful solution of the problem, realizing the vision of
two states – Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace and security.
The US can and must play the role of a just broker of peace. Peace must
succeed in the Middle East; failure, Mr. President, is no more an option.
Mr. President,
It has always been my conviction that Pakistan and India can
resolve all their differences, including over Jammu and Kashmir, through a
sincere dialogue. The dangerous confrontation of 2002 and the three wars prior
to that between our two countries have demonstrated that there is no military
solution to our problems. The aspiration for peace enjoys popular support in
Pakistan and, I also believe, in India. Neither country can achieve its
ambition for social and economic progress in the absence of peace. We must
achieve peace for the sake of the impoverished people of South Asia – for
their development and prosperity.
After several aborted attempts, Pakistan and India have been
able to initiate Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and a composite dialogue
this year to address all2.outstanding issues. Pakistan has pursued this
process with complete sincerity, giving bilateralism a final chance. We feel
that the dual channels of CBMs and the Dialogue Process must proceed in
tandem. We also are firmly committed to resolving all disputes with India
peacefully including the Kashmir dispute. This cannot be ignored. Its
resolution cannot be delayed. We desire a resolution of Kashmir which is just
and acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. We also seek
strategic stability with India. I am glad to say, Mr. President, that up till
now the normalization process has progressed well, in a cordial atmosphere.
Now that the negotiations are entering the difficult stage of grappling with
solutions to previously irreconcilable disputes, Pakistan hopes that India
shows the same sincerity, flexibility and boldness that Pakistan will
demonstrate. I look forward to my meeting day after tomorrow with Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh. I would like to convey to him that this is the moment
for peace – we must not allow it to slip away..
Mr. President,
Iraq has taken a serious turn, to the anguish of the entire
world community. It is imperative that together with closing the Palestine and
Kashmir fronts, we also wind down the Iraq confrontation. Pakistan stands for
restoration of peace and stability in Iraq, ensuring its unity and territorial
integrity. This can only be achieved through handing over governance authority
to the people of Iraq and allowing them full control over their natural
resources. Internal law and order and security can be best promoted by local
Iraqi Police or Militia, which needs to be built up expeditiously. At an
opportune time, and, on request of people and Government of Iraq, the Muslim
World could play a role in bringing peace and harmony to this conflict torn
Nation.
Mr. President,
The forthcoming elections in Afghanistan will be an important
landmark in the country's progress towards democracy and stability. Pakistan
will do all it can to prevent terrorists from using our territory to disrupt
the Afghan election process. The subsequent Parliamentary elections in April
2005 would also augur well for self governance in Afghanistan. While the
political channel is progressing well and we wish President Karzai all
success, the process of building the Afghan National Army and reconstruction
effort in Afghanistan needs to be accelerated to install durable peace in
Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
In our globalized world, peace and development are
interdependent – now more than ever. Despite dynamic growth in some parts of
the developing world, economic and social disparities are increasing. The rich
are richer; the poor are poorer. Over two billion people on -our planet — a
quarter of the world's population — live in abject poverty, afflicted by
hunger, disease and conflict. Islands of peace and prosperity cannot coexist
for long within oceans of instability and poverty.
A bold and innovative global strategy is required to redress
the growing inequalities. Good governance is a precondition for development.
But, it is equally essential to rectify the glaring inequities and imbalances
in the international financial and trade systems. Official Development
Assistance can and must be doubled. Innovative ways can and must be adopted to
generate the financial resources required for development. The billions
transferred abroad by corrupt leaders should be returned to the looted
countries to finance poverty alleviation, education and health. International
investment flows should be consciously directed to the poorer developing
countries. It can unleash the latent power of the poor for consumption and
production. We also know by now that trade, and not just aid, is the way to
promote growth and to benefit from globalization. However, it has to be made
more equitable. It should eliminate unfair agricultural subsidies, remove high
and escalating tariffs that discriminate against the products of the poor and
offer special and differential treatment to disadvantaged developing
countries. In my view, we need more than a level playing field; we need a
field tilted in favour of the developing countries.
Unless the world's leaders generate the political will required
to agree and implement these measures urgently, the Millennium Development
Goals, proclaimed by the United Nations, will remain a mirage.
Mr. President,
In Pakistan, we are well on the way to transforming our country
into a modem, progressive, tolerant, democratic, Islamic state, reflecting the
vision of our founding father, the Quaid-e-Azam. Democracy has been restored
in Pakistan. The people have been empowered through a revolutionary Local
Government System. Our women have been empowered. However, like other
developing countries, Pakistan confronts several challenges. But, we are
confident of success. Our governance is good. Our national priorities are
clear.
Mr. President,
Today, there is welcome resurgence of support for
multilateralism. This must be a multilateralism based on the principles of the
UN Charter, a cooperative and democratic multilateralism. It must seek just,
peaceful and durable solutions to conflicts and disputes. It must promote a
programme for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. It must foster global
development and prosperity.
All our collective aspirations can be best pursued within this
World Organization. The United Nations must be strengthened and revitalized to
respond to the challenges of Twenty-first Century.
The UN Security Council should become more effective,
democratic and representative. There is no agreement on the aspiration of a
few States to acquire permanent membership of the Security Council. The
overwhelming majority of states are against the creation of new centres of
privilege. The Council should be enlarged to ensure there presentation of the
mostly small and medium states which have joined the United Nations over the
last three decades. We have to consider new ideas to craft a consensus on the
enlargement of elected members on the Security Council
Mr. President,
Pakistan believes that a new consensus on peace, security and
development, can and should be achieved on the occasion of the 60th
Anniversary of the United Nations next year. The summit meeting .suggested by
the Secretary General for next year must lead to an egotiated Final Document
adopted by consensus. This historic Summit will, I hope, create anew paradigm
to achieve universal peace and prosperity.
Source: Official Website of the United Nations
22 September 2004
<http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/document/papers/PMUN04.htm>
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