United Nations, 29th September 2004
Saudi Arabia said that tremendous global changes and the magnitude of challenges facing the international community today make imperative a re-evaluation of the structure and mechanisms of the United Nations, with the aim of enhancing its capabilities for conflict resolution and prevention in order to preserve world peace and security.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports the call for reform to secure broader membership of the UN Security Council to improve geographical representation, promote transparency, avoid the application of double standards, and ensure the adoption of measures to enhance the credibility of its work and guarantee respect for, and compliance with its resolutions.
Saudi Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nizar Obaid Madani delivered the above remarks in a statement to the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.
The following is the full text of Dr Madani’s statement:
“Mr President: It is my pleasure to extend to you and to your country, Gabon, our sincere congratulations on your election as President of the Fifty-Ninth Session of the General Assembly. We are confident that you will direct the work of this session in a highly capable and efficient manner.
I would also like to express our appreciation to your predecessor, Foreign Minister of Saint Lucia Mr Julian Hunt, who as President of the previous session of the General Assembly managed its business with wisdom and expertise.
On this occasion, I would like to convey the deep appreciation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to His Excellency Kofi Anan for the sustained and diligent efforts he has been exerting to maintain international peace and security, and for his commendable endeavours aimed at invigorating the role of the United Nations, enhancing its functions, capabilities, and effectiveness in pursuit of peace and stability in our world.
The cogent speech given by his Excellency last week is worthy of praise and note-worthy because it contained significant blueprint and guidelines on how to promote the resilience of the international order.
There is a dire need, when tackling global issues, to patch up the holes in the international order so that it is not applied selectively or in an abusive manner.
Mr President: The tremendous global changes and the magnitude of the challenges facing the international community today necessitate a deep look into the work techniques of the United Nations, its structure, and the functions of its existing organs, with the objective of enhancing its ability to prevent and resolve conflicts and to preserve world peace and security.
In this respect, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports the call for reforms to secure broader membership of the Security Council in such a way as to improve geographical representation, promote transparency in its operation, avoid the application of double standards, and ensure the adoption of measures to enhance the credibility of its work and guarantee respect for, and compliance with, its resolutions.
Among the important reforms needed for our organization is rationalization of the power of veto. By this, I mean that permanent members of the Security Council should pledge not to invoke their right to veto in the case of resolutions and procedures that are adopted to implement resolutions previously agreed upon.
There is also an imperative to re-establish an optimal balance between the General Assembly and the Security Council, to enhance the role of the Economic and Social Council, and make for closer coordination among United Nations funds, programs, and activities.
We reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations and the multilateral international order since our international community is in dire need of a unified and mutually supportive stance for the purpose of attaining sound and just solutions to the prevailing global problems. Thus, we call for a general consensus upon the rules pertaining to regulation of international behaviour. These rules should be based on respect for the values, traditions and principles that are deeply rooted in the conscience of mankind, and should promote constructive cooperation and the achievement of security, peace, stability and prosperity for all nations.
Mr President: Humanity has been afflicted by the growing danger of the phenomenon of terrorism. It is a phenomenon that does not discriminate between one society and another. Today, we are in dire need of mobilizing all possible efforts to increase international cooperation to combat international terrorism and to confront those who instigate and finance it.
Terrorist groups have been crossing borders and regions, and expanding in different nations and continents. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, is collaborating with the international community to eliminate this global evil. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has affirmed its full support for the Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism and has taken the necessary steps to close any loopholes in its regulations concerning the collection of donations for charitable activities that might be used for illicit purposes.
The Kingdom has established a public commission entrusted with the task of supervising and organizing the activities of all charitable organizations in order to streamline their operations and to prevent those with bad intentions and evil objectives from using them for illegal purposes.
The Kingdom was among the first signatories of the Arab Agreement on Combating Terrorism, and other similar agreements emanating from the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Gulf Cooperation Council. It has acceded to a further nine international anti-terrorism conventions and agreements. The Government of Saudi Arabia has recently implemented a series of measures that are indicative of its seriousness and determination to fight terrorism. Its strategy of pre-emptive action to forestall criminal acts has achieved success in the fight against this deadly epidemic and earned the praise and admiration of the international community.
Crimes committed by a handful of criminals and misguided felons cannot justify incriminating a whole society or an entire culture. Terrorism can strike any city and target any interests regardless of the nationality, religion or ethnic origin of the victims. Terrorism is a global phenomenon that calls for joint action and cooperation by all countries, and requires the collaboration of concerned international organizations to confront it and discuss the most effective ways and means for its elimination.
It is on the basis of these facts that I am pleased to announce before your esteemed gathering that the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to host in Riyadh an international conference on combating terrorism, scheduled for 5 – 8 February 2005. Its purpose is to exchange information and experience in the field of combating terrorism, to see how we can cooperate with other countries in the fight against this universal threat. We also intend to utilize the occasion to learn about scientific and practical techniques relevant not only to the fight against terrorism, but also to prevention of the practices of money laundering, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling.
The conference will also provide an opportunity to study the culture and mindset of terrorists and the structure of terrorist organizations.
Official invitations to this conference have been extended to concerned international organizations and to countries that have suffered or are suffering terrorist threats. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes the participation of all those invited, and hopes that the outcome of the conference - in terms of deliberations and recommendations - will constitute an important addition and a great support to international efforts to eradicate the roots and causes of this dangerous phenomenon.
Mr President: The setback in the peace process and the mounting wave of violence and extremism in the region are largely attributable to the pursuit by the Israeli government of policies that are totally incompatible with the fundamental principles of the peace process, notably the land for peace principle. These principles emanate from a broad frame of reference that involves Security Council resolutions, particularly resolutions 242 and 338, and U.S. Administration’s vision of two states - an Israeli state, and an independent Palestinian state – existing side by side.
The Arab initiative continues to stand as a credible basis for the security and stability for all peoples of the region because it ensures a lasting, just and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict in general.
It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to exert maximum efforts to promote the path of the peace process towards its desired goals, particularly now that this process has stalled and has met with indifference and lack of concern, even in its humanitarian aspect which was expected to mobilize the conscience of the international community in defence of universally recognized human values.
Furthermore, peace cannot be achieved by unilateral Israeli measures designed to create new realities on the ground for the purpose of prejudicing the final outcome of political negotiations that will supposedly tackle the delicate issues of the final settlement.
The Palestinian question cannot be solved, nor the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, by sheer force, aerial bombardment, guided missiles, assassination of Palestinian activists, destruction of infrastructure, usurpation of property, violation of rights, and the imposition of collective punishment. Peace will be achieved and security will prevail only when United Nations resolutions are implemented, the provisions of international law are respected and applied, and the principles of justice and equality are observed.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns the continuous escalation of violence against the Palestinian people and the Israeli Government’s insistence on establishing and expanding its settlements. We also condemn the continued construction of the separation wall that has annexed extensive Palestinian lands in unprecedented defiance of the ruling of the International Court of Justice confirming the illegality of this wall and ordering Israel to dismantle it. The International Court of Justice ruling was followed by a General Assembly resolution which demonstrates the consensus of the international community on this issue.
However, if Israel is serious about withdrawing from Gaza and dismantling some settlements, we stress that such action should proceed in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, in conformity with the requirements of the ‘roadmap’, and under supervision of the Quartet Committee. The proposed withdrawal should come about as a first step towards a complete and full withdrawal from all Palestinian territories, including Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring endeavours aimed at eliminating all forms of weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East and making the region free from all such lethal weapons.
In this regard, we call upon the international community to adopt an even-handed approach, refrain from applying double standards, assume its legal and moral responsibilities, and urge the Israeli Government to refrain from the development of its nuclear program, and subject its nuclear installations to the inspection and safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Mr President: We are profoundly distressed and gravely concerned by the deterioration of security in Iraq, where tragic incidents, heinous acts of violence, and the horror of kidnapping innocent people seem to be a daily affair. Faced with this awesome reality, we can only urge the Iraqi people to mend fences and work hand-in-hand to support the efforts of their transitional government towards establishing the security, safety, and well-being of their country, preserving its national unity and independence, and ensuring the restoration of its effective and positive role in the international arena.
We also call upon the United Nations to play a greater role to assist the Iraqi Government to meet the requirements of the ongoing political process, including conducting the general election that will hopefully lead to a permanent and legitimate government, while proceeding with the efforts of reconstruction.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has presented some ideas regarding the deployment of Islamic troops in Iraq, with the consent of the Iraqi Government and under United Nations supervision, to replace, but not to supplement, multilateral forces. These ideas, however, have not materialized, although their premises are worthy of consideration and follow up.
With regard to developments in Sudan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, profoundly moved by the humanitarian tragedy in Darfur, is supportive of the efforts of the Government of Sudan to restore stability in the region, and of its cooperation with the relief organizations and others to address the humanitarian situation resulting from the crisis. We hope that the efforts of the Government of Sudan and those of the African Union are given sufficient time to restore security to the region and to ensure the well-being of its people in this respect.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has initiated an ongoing airlift operation, using Saudi cargo planes, to provide direct humanitarian assistance to the Darfur region, including medical and food supplies, tents, and power generators. Moreover, there are Saudi relief teams in the region who have established clinics in camps and hospitals and equipped them with doctors, medication, and medical supplies. In addition, wells have been dug to provide camps with potable water.
Mr President: Human development and economic prosperity are keys to the attainment of a better future for developing countries. To attain this objective, developed and developing nations can act together to achieve great success. My country has contributed to promotion of the development process in developing and least-developed countries by adopting and implementing many development projects and extending generous assistance to these countries via its national agencies and regional and international organizations, in order to enable those countries to overcome the problems of poverty and underdevelopment.
While we appreciate the concern expressed by the Group of Eight at their Summit on Sea Island regarding the future of the Middle East, and their desire to help the countries of the region to develop and progress, we believe that the process of helping developing nations to initiate political and economic reforms should not be imposed or dictated, but rather be a catalyst to assist reforms in these nations. Outside interference on the question of reform can only result in disrupting and stalling a process that is already underway. For reform to be effective and lasting it should reflect the actual needs of the concerned societies and conform to the stage of development in the reforming states.
Of course, there is much that advanced countries can provide in the development process, particularly in the areas of investment, liberalization of international trade, encouraging international economic cooperation, and the opening of markets. We believe that removing protective measures such as trade barriers and tariffs, and ending preferential assistance that hinders the ability of developing countries to enter the markets of developed countries, can significantly contribute to achieving the desired objectives of development.
There is, moreover, a need to exert the necessary efforts to help developing countries to overcome their problems and their deeply rooted political conflicts.
Based on its position of responsibility and its effective role in the international oil market, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has continued consistently to meet its obligations to ensure the stability of oil markets in order to guarantee continuity of the world’s economic growth. To achieve this, it has increased its production capacity to ensure the availability of sufficient supplies and to control surges in prices.
In this regard, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia initiated establishment of the Energy Forum and hosts its General Secretariat in Riyadh. The Energy Forum has become a platform for discussion of potential and means for cooperation and dialogue between oil consumers and producers, within and outside OPEC member states. Consumer and producer countries should seek to intensify mutual cooperation in order to ensure stable markets for the strategic commodity - petroleum, and to guarantee the continuous growth of the global economy.
Mr President: In conclusion, our world continues to be plagued by serious problems and destabilizing conflicts. There is, therefore, continued need to do more to boost collective international efforts to consecrate the concept of dialogue and raise the level of understanding, mutual consultation, and acquaintance among nations and between cultures, and embark on a serious effort to propagate the culture of peace in order to achieve for our fellow human beings the human dignity and prosperity they deserve. We need to do more to put an end to violence and racial discrimination and work for the attainment of justice.
God said in the Holy Quran: “Oh mankind! We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily the most honourable of you with God is the most pious.”
Blessings and peace be upon you.”
Source: SPA
