ohn gyaw speech at unga

[maung@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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STATEMENT BY U OHN GYAW, SLORC'S MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 
AT THE 50TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
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			(New York,  3 October 1995) 


Mr. President, 

It gives me great pleasure to extend, on behalf of the 
Delegation of Myanmar and on my own behalf, warm congratulations 
to you on your assumption of the Presidency of the fiftieth 
session of the United Nations General Assembly. The diplomatic 
skills and experience that you bring to the high office assure 
us of a successful session. 

Allow me to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to 
His Excellency Mr. Amara Essy,Foreign Minister of Cote d'Ivoire, 
for having so successfully guided the deliberations of the 
previous session. 


Mr. President, 
 
The United Nations is fifty years old this year. It is both a 
time for celebration and an opportunity for reflection. The 
Organization has evolved over time and has served us well for 
half a century. The  significant increase in the membership - 
from the original 51 to the present 185-- underscores the 
continuing relevance of the Organization.  However, vast 
transformations are now taking place and reforms in the 
structure and work of the Organization must be instituted to 
reflect the new realities. We wish to see a more efficient and 
result-oriented Organization, one that retains mechanisms that 
have proven effective adopts innovative measures to assure 
cooperation in the post-bloc world. 
 
Security Council reforms constitute one of the most important 
issues to be addressed. Myanmar stands for a pragmatic approach 
that ensures that the Council evolves into a more 
representative, effective and democratic body. Judging from the 
work of the Open Ended Working Group on the Question of 
Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of 
the Security Council during the last two sessions of the United 
Nations General Assembly, it is clear that there is a 
convergence of views that the Council should be enlarged. The 
enlargement should however be accompanied by measures to make it 
more effective. It should ensure equitable geographic 
representation and at the same time preserve the possibility for 
smaller states to serve on the Council. 
 
Myanmar fully supports the position of the Non-Aligned Countries 
which stresses the importance of enhancing the effective and 
efficient functioning of the Security Council by adopting 
measures geared at reforming its working methods and procedures. 
 
Myanmar welcomes the actions already taken to enhance the 
relationship between the Council and the general membership as 
well as measures to improve its working methods and procedures. 
We are particularly pleased to see that the council has 
initialized the holding of orientation debates and briefings by 
the President of the Council for States non-members of the 
Security Council. We see the need to enhance cooperation between 
the Security Council and the General Assembly in accordance with 
Articles 10,11, 12 and 14 of the Charter. We also share the view 
that reforms can best be achieved through a combination of means 
that include General Assembly resolutions, changes in the rules 
of procedure and through appropriate amendments to the Charter 
where necessary. 
 
At the same time the role of the General Assembly -- the single 
forum where all the Member States are represented -- should be 
reviewed to enable it to deal more effectively with outstanding 
problems and to allow it to focus on the new challenges of our 
times. 
 
We consider it vital that there be a more dynamic relationship 
between the main organs of the organization -- the General 
Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social 
Council. 
 
 
Mr President, 
 
In recent years the United Nations despite constraints, has been 
in the forefront of the international community's efforts to 
deal with the unresolved problems of the Cold War decades as 
well as new ones that have surfaced.   It has been called upon 
to meet the burgeoning demand for peace-keeping. In some cases 
like Angola, Cambodia, El Salvador  and Mozambique, it has 
scored successes. In some others, like Bosnia and Herzegovina 
and Somalia it has come under heavy strains and proved to be 
ineffective. The lesson to be learned is that the Security 
Council should be far more conscious of when and under what 
mandate to begin peace-keeping operations. Such operations must 
have clearly defined objectives. More importantly, agreement 
among major powers must carry with it the support of the 
majority of the member states if it is to have the desired 
result. 
 
If the United Nations system is to be revitalized and 
strengthened, the basic issue of adequate financing, 
particularly of peace-keeping operations, must be addressed. 
Whether that happens depends on us. The United Nations can only 
be as strong or as effective as Member States choose to make it. 
Limitations of the United Nations should not encourage Member 
States to take precipitate actions. As a Myanmar saying goes. 
"When mice enter the granary, we must catch the mice and not set 
fire to the granary". 
 
The founders of the United Nations also envisioned it as an 
international body for the promotion of the economic and social 
welfare of all peoples. Even though the right to development is 
recognized as an inalienable human right, the disparity between 
the developed and the developing countries continues to widen. 
Member States should reaffirm their commitment to cooperate in 
creating an international economic environment conducive to the 
realization of the right to development. Without development 
there can be no prospect for lasting peace. In this regard I am 
pleased to note that in his recommendations on "An Agenda for 
Development" the Secretary-General last November stressed that 
development should be recognized as the foremost and most far-
reaching task of our time 
 
The United Nations was established on the principle of equality 
of all its members. The mandate of the Organization is to 
advance peace and security, bring international justice and 
economic and social development to all peoples. While it 
deserves to be commended for its vital role in the historic 
process of decolonization which led to the independence of more 
than 80 countries, much less can be said for its efforts to 
create an equitable international economic order. 

 
Mr. President, 
 
I am pleased to note that the perceptible improvement in the 
international climate is generating a favourable impact on some 
longstanding issues such as the Middle East peace process. The 
initial steps taken two years ago towards a durable peace have 
now been followed by firm strides. Myanmar joins other nations 
in welcoming the accord signed by Prime Minister Rabin and 
Chairman Arafat in Washington D. C. on 28 September 1995. We 
hope that it will pave the way to a comprehensive, just and 
lasting peace in the Middle East. 

 
Mr. President, 
 
Just as the family of nations must work together to ensure 
international peace and stability, individual states must 
promote peace within their territories. I am happy to be able to 
say that in Myanmar peace reigns like never before and that the 
momentum for positive change continues. The Government has set 
12 objectives in the political, economic and social fields and 
is working steadfastly to achieve them. 
 
A unique feature of Myanmar is that it is a union composed of 
well over a hundred national races. Unity among the different 
national races is essential for the preservation of our 
independence and sovereignty as well as for the economic, and 
social progress of the country. The Government has adopted 
policies to prevent the disintegration of the Union, ensure the 
non-disintegration of national solidarity and ensure the 
perpetuity of our country's sovereignty. Moreover with a view to 
building a peaceful, prosperous and modern nation, my Government 
has formulated and is pursuing clear objectives in the 
political, economic and social spheres. 

 
Mr. President, 
 
Allow me to focus briefly on some of the main issues on our 
national agenda:

First is the issue of ensuring the stability of the State. 
National reconsolidation is an indispensable component of my 
Government's policy to achieve peace and tranquillity. A 
national convention has been convened to draft a new 
constitution which would be a harmony with present-day realities 
and reflect the aspirations of the entire nation. 
 
Secondly, in the economic sector guidelines have been formulated 
to promise all-round development of agriculture which forms the 
mainstay of the nation's economy.   At the same time Myanmar has 
laid out a welcome mat to foreign and domestic investors in 
order to attract capital and technical know-how. 
 
Thirdly, progress is sought in the social sector in order to 
buttress political stability and economic progress which 
constitute foundation stones for a peaceful, prosperous and 
modem state. We are engaged in efforts to strengthen the fabric 
of the society by rekindling the spirit of patriotism and 
uplifting the moral integrity of our citizens.  The Government 
is endeavouring to preserve the national character and cultural 
heritage and to raise the standard of education and health of 
the entire country. 

Mr. President, 

It is a source of immense pride and satisfaction that our 
efforts have achieved a significant measure of success in 
charting a new course for the country.  Insurgency which was 
born with our independence is now coming to a close. The 
unprecedented return to the legal fold of 15 out of the 16 armed 
groups speaks volumes for our efforts at national 
reconsolidation. 
 
The Government also lifted restrictions placed on Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi, 10 July 1995. The lifting of restrictions is 
unconditional. A large number of individuals against whom action 
had been taken in accordance with the laws of the land has also 
been released. 

 
Mr. President, 

I am also pleased to be able to say that we in Myanmar have been 
shouldering our responsibilities to combat the menace posed by 
narcotic drugs.  The Myanmar Armed Forces have been mounting 
major offensives against drug traffickers including the forces 
of Khun Sa.  Since end 1988, there have been 823 engagements 
with the drug traffickers.  In these clashes 16 officers and 567 
other ranks from the Armed Forces sacrificed their lives for the 
country, 55 officers and 1,744 other ranks were wounded in 
action, and 153 weapons were lost.  Enemy losses amounted to 720 
killed, 118 captured, 221 surrendered and 708 assorted weapons 
seized.  The numbers speak for themselves.  We are determined to 
wage war against the drug traffickers as a matter of national 
responsibility and see it as our duty to humanity.  Our men have 
sacrificed life and limb so that the world may be rid of the 
scourge of narcotic drugs.  The actions of the Myanmar Armed 
Forces deserve to be accorded due recognition just as the Blue 
Helmets have been commended for their valour and courage.

In order to succeed in the fight against narcotic drugs, the 
Myanmar Government in May 1989 initiated an integrated rural 
development program of unprecedented nature and scope in the 
border areas.  Subsequently in 1992 a separate Ministry devoted 
to the development of border areas and national races was 
established.    We are fully confident that once those areas are 
developed, living standards of the local populace raised and 
alternate means of livelihood made available, poppy cultivation 
will be totally eradicated.

We have relied on our own resources to promote the development 
programmes in the border areas.  Over K2.842 million (US$400) 
has been expended for infrastructure-building.  We are grateful 
that recently Japan approved a grant of Yen 1 billion (US$10 
million) to be used to purchase fertilizer and agricultural 
machinery and implements for the food development programme in 
the border regions.  It is our hope that others too will join 
hands with us to develop those regions in order that humanity 
may be freed from the menace posed by narcotic drugs.

Mr. President,

On the economic front, Myanmar has made important gains. The 
economy registered a growth rate of 6.8 percent in l994-95 and 
prospects look bright for the future. Foreign investment in 
Myanmar totals US$ 2.7 billion and is expected to reach US$4 
billion by the end of the year. 
 
An indicator of the pace of development of the economy is the 
dramatic increase in the production of the staple crop, rice, 
permitting the export of over one million tons.  In the 
meantime, Myanmar is fulfilling the basic needs of the people 
and in striving to narrow the gap in living standards between 
the urban dwellers and the rural folks. 
 
 
Mr. President, 
 
In the realm of international relations, Myanmar has 
consistently pursued a policy of peace and friendship with all 
states, especially with neighbouring countries.  A recent 
landmark event was Myanmar's accession to the Treaty of Amity 
and Cooperation at the 28th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brunei 
paving the way for Myanmar's eventual entry into ASEAN. 
 
In the light of the political and socio-economic transformations 
taking place in the country and the increased cooperation with 
its neighbours, Myanmar continues to make important 
contributions to peace and stability in the region and in the 
world. 

 
Mr. President, 
 
The commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United 
Nations is a time for reflection and for resolution. I would 
like to seize this opportunity to renew my country's dedication 
and commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charter and 
to pledge that Myanmar will contribute, however modestly, to the 
realization of a United Nations which will serve both the cause 
of world peace and fulfil the needs of humanity. 
 

Mr. President,

In this new era we must strive to ensure that all nations can 
live together in peace and harmony.  Every nation must also 
strive to keep its house in order.  We have a responsibility in 
our time just as the founding fathers of the United Nations had 
in theirs to bequeath to the generations to come a world that is 
secure and peaceful.

I thank you.