General Assembly Official Records Fifty-Sixth Session
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United Nations A/56/PV.54 General Assembly Official Records Fifty-sixth session 54th plenary meeting Thursday, 15 November 2001, 9 a.m. New York President: Mr. Han Seung-soo ........................................ (Republic of Korea) The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. the international community to mobilizing itself more resolutely in the quest for international peace and Agenda item 9 (continued) security and to fighting poverty, injustice and other scourges that threaten the very existence of humankind. General debate The terrorist attacks of 11 September which The President: I give the floor to His Excellency struck the United States and plunged the American Mr. Youssouf Ouédraogo, Minister of State and people, as well as other peoples throughout the world, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso. into grief truly marked a turning point in the development of international relations. They were a Mr. Ouédraogo (Burkina Faso) (spoke in brutal and atrocious reminder of both the complexity of French): I should like first of all to offer the profound problems facing humankind and the urgent need to find condolences of Burkina Faso to Algeria and the appropriate solutions to them. Burkina Faso firmly and Dominican Republic following the disasters that have unambiguously condemned those barbaric, criminal struck those countries. and repugnant acts, and we condemn them still. I would like to convey to you, Sir, my heartfelt, Furthermore, we are resolved to take part in any warm congratulations on your election to the initiatives undertaken by the international community presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth to eradicate terrorism and its causes. That is why session. I would also like to congratulate the members Burkina Faso has begun the process of ratifying the of the Bureau, as well as Mr. Harri Holkeri, President Organization of African Unity Convention on the at the fifty-fifth session, for the outstanding efforts that Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, as well as he made during his term of office. United Nations conventions on this subject. I would like to take this opportunity to pay a My Government has just adopted a draft law with resounding tribute to Mr. Kofi Annan, whose a view to ratifying the United Nations Convention noteworthy re-election to the post of Secretary-General against Transnational Organized Crime and the first, of the United Nations confirms the exceptional second and third protocols thereto, relating, qualities that he possesses as a diplomat and tireless respectively, to the smuggling of migrants; trafficking champion of peace and justice in the world. The Nobel in persons, particularly women and children; and the Peace Prize, which has just been awarded to him, is illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in weapons. In eloquent testimony to that. cooperation with the United Nations, Ouagadougou will be hosting, from 28 to 30 November, a seminar for Last year, the leaders of the world met here to the foreign ministers and ministers of justice of the give new impetus to our Organization and to commit This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-178. Corrections will be issued after the end of the session in a consolidated corrigendum. 01-63882 (E) *0163882* A/56/PV.54 countries of the Economic Community of West African It is also essential to lift the iniquitous embargoes States, the aim of which is to accelerate the ratification imposed on some States, such as Libya, Sudan, Iraq, of that Convention. Iran, and Cuba. For, not only do these embargoes cause suffering to their people, but they also help to weaken If it is to be effective, the campaign against world peace and security. terrorism must be part of a coherent and solid world coalition, with its basis in the United Nations. At the The Republic of China in Taiwan, which has same time, it must take into consideration the realities demonstrated sufficiently that it is a democratic and and constraints confronting international relations. In peaceful State, is prepared to play its rightful role in other words, in addition to military action, the the concert of nations, and it should no longer suffer campaign must include the most appropriate political from the injustice that we are combating each day. That and diplomatic measures in order effectively to deal is why, in the name of equality among peoples and with conflicts and regional political problems and to nations, we make an urgent appeal for the readmission reduce gross injustice and inequality which, because of of the Republic of China to the United Nations. the frustration they generate, serve as a breeding Turning to the question of Western Sahara, ground for extremists and fuel violence and hatred. Burkina Faso has always supported United Nations As our mobilization to fight terrorism must be initiatives and efforts here. Accordingly, the recent total, so also must we see to the prior definition of plan proposed by Mr. James Baker, the Personal Envoy clear objectives and appropriate methods for their of the Secretary-General, seems to us to be an implementation. While it is true that terrorists are our acceptable political compromise for a constructive enemies, it is also true that the manner in which we negotiating basis. combat them should not provide them with allies. As One activity that fuels and sustains conflicts and President Blaise Compaore recently stated: serious banditry in the world is the manufacture, sale “As we see it, there is a risk that, if we are not and circulation of arms and anti-personnel mines. careful, the responses to the events of 11 Burkina Faso firmly supports the actions taken by the September might lead to a catastrophic scenario United Nations aimed at reaching general and complete for humanity, with a tangled web of conflict: disarmament, both at the level of weapons of mass conflict between the Judeo-Christian world and destruction and conventional weapons. As for the Muslim world; conflict between West and combating the proliferation of light weapons, in East; conflict between the rich North and the poor addition to the Economic Community of West African South. It is therefore crucial for our current States (ECOWAS) moratorium to which it subscribes, leaders courageously to attack the injustices and Burkina Faso has set up a high authority responsible inequalities which fuel violence and hatred.” for monitoring throughout our national territory the import and use of weapons. The international community must therefore resolutely commit itself to combating poverty, Africa has decided to further unite. It has decided epidemics, in particular HIV/AIDS, and economic and to bring closer together its peoples and economies and commercial marginalization, as well as exclusion of all to strengthen its partnership with other regions in order kinds, which continue to be the daily lot of many to better integrate itself in the world economy. The regions of the world. African Union was set up precisely to accomplish this huge project. Burkina Faso reiterates here the appeal Attacking these injustices means necessarily that made by the heads of State and Government of the we have to find a solution to the question of the Middle Organization of African Unity (OAU) for the effective East. The right of the Palestinians to establish an support of the international community for the New independent State, respectful of the existence and Partnership for Africa’s Development. security of Israel, is a sine qua non here. Because of the continuing tension in that part of the world, convening The debate in the United Nations should enable a special international conference on the subject at the all Member States to express themselves and contribute earliest possible date is necessary. to the discussion on how best to meet the concerns of humanity. All opinions must be heard and taken into consideration. Decisions taken pursuant to the rules 2 A/56/PV.54 must also be applied by each Member State. This is the we can overcome the ills that beset humanity. We sine qua non requirement for achieving a viable new simply need to unite, show solidarity and act together. international order based on a necessary dialogue The President: I now call on His Excellency among civilizations and a culture of sharing and Mr. Hassan Wirayuda, Minister for Foreign Affairs of solidarity. This new world order, in order to be more Indonesia. just, has to be based on two basic concepts. First of all, there should be a reform of the United Nations to Mr. Wirayuda (Indonesia): On behalf of the provide a more collective and democratic way of Indonesian delegation, I am pleased to congratulate managing the affairs of the world. Secondly, there you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the should be a more equitable distribution of the world’s General Assembly at the fifty-sixth session. We are resources, through revision of trade mechanisms and pleased that the stewardship of this session has been financing for development. entrusted to so capable a diplomat from a fraternal Asian country, with which Indonesia has always Turning to the reform of the Security Council, enjoyed the most cordial of relations. Burkina Faso reaffirms Africa’s position, which resulted from the Harare Summit, advocating equitable I wish to preface my statement by expressing representation of all regions of the world and once again, on behalf of the Government and people of guaranteeing greater transparency and effectiveness for Indonesia, our deepest condolences and sympathy to the United Nations.