ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FATHULLA JAMEEL, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO THE THIRTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Mr. President,
It is a pleasure for me to extend to you my delegation's sincere congratulations on your election to the high office of the President of this thirty-second Session of the United Nations General Assembly. We consider your election as a well deserved tribute paid to you by the world body for your eminent qualities of statesmanship and experience, as well as added recognition of the prominent role played in world affairs by your country. My country, which maintains close links with Yugoslavia, particularly within the Non-Aligned movement, conveys to you through me, its good wishes of success in your important deliberations.
Allow me also, Mr. President, to express my Government's appreciation of the invaluable role played by your predecessor, Ambassador Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe, during his term of office as the President of the thirty-first Session. I wish to congratulate him for the successful manner in which he discharged his onerous responsibilities. I would also like to express my Government's deep appreciation to the Secretary-General Dr. Waldheim, for his untiring and dedicated efforts to promote the objectives of the Organization.
This current session marks the admission to membership of our Organization of two members; the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Djibouti. My delegation welcomes with joy the two new members in our midst, whose admission to our Organization is not only a further step towards the achievement of universality of the Organization, but also a clear indication of the strength displayed by the peoples of those countries towards self-determination and nationalism. We are convinced that their presence in this family of nations will contribute positively towards peace and cooperation.
Mr. President,
Maldives is a small nation among the community of nations which depends very much on its well-being and progress on the principles of peace and international cooperation. We firmly believe that the United Nations system, despite its short-comings, has been and will continue to be the most vital instrument the family of nations has so far evolved for the maintenance of peace and security in the world, and for the promotion of the principles of freedom, justice and human dignity.
We realize that the problems which we face today are difficult and of a complex magnitude. But we hope that, with a greater sense of responsibility and our collective efforts, we will be able to solve these problems. The implementations of the resolutions we adopt and the genuine belief and enthusiasm for the principles embodied in our Charter remain as the key factors for the success of our deliberations. As our distinguished Secretary-General said in his report, "The concept of world order is based on respect for the decisions of the principal organs of the United Nations and for international law, principles and procedures."
Mr. President,
The framework for solutions of today's economic problems has already been laid down. The Declaration and Program of Action on the Establishment of a New Economic Order and the Resolutions of the Seventh Special Session of Development and International Economic Cooperation, can guide us in any deliberation towards the establishment of a new partnership between the developed and developing countries, and an effective relationship between nations based on the principles of inter-dependence and mutual respect. My country feels happy that, as a result of our deliberations within the United Nations system during the past few years, we are now able to identify. a number of key issues involved in the process of achieving this new relationship. Despite the failure of the recent dialogues in Paris to live up to the expectations of the developing countries, Maldives is happy to see the evidence for an entirely new approach to development and the desire of the developed countries to create effective conditions for a better World Economic Order.
Mr. President,
Allow me to mention some specific problems of my country pertaining to development. The most serious impediments are our meager natural resources and the extreme fragmentation of the thousand-island archipelago, which occupies nearly a hundred thousand square kilometers in the Indian Ocean. Fisheries and Tourism are the only two major fields in which any viable activity can be immediately carried out. So far, Maldives has depended solely on its own limited resources and the bilateral assistance received from friendly countries. The effectiveness of United Nations assisted programs was in the past at a minimum, due to the lack of intensified programming to cater for the existing problems of the country. It is only now that, due to the nature and urgency of our development needs combined with the hard economic realities of our times, we embarked on projects which require relatively large funds. It is in this respect that the Government of Maldives decided to join the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, and the Asian Development Bank Furthermore, the Government is also seeking assistance from other sources. We are hopeful that with the support of these sources and agencies, and given a few more years to plan ahead we will be able to catch the train and thereby will be able to maintain an adequate momentum of progress to participate in the newly constructed World Economic Order.
Mr. President,
Turning to the major issues confronting the world as a whole, my delegation believes that the problem of Disarmament in all its dimensions remains most urgent, particularly the question of controlling the Nuclear arms race. The dangers of the recent developments in the armament field are beyond our imaginations. My delegation hopes that the proposed Special Session of the General Assembly will achieve progress in the direction of complete disarmament, or at least free mankind from the perils of Nuclear destruction. We strongly condemn the trend of thought which tries to justify the acquisition and usage of Nuclear weapons as a method of blackmailing, even as the last resort for survival .
Mr. President,
We in Maldives, as a freedom and peace-loving country, see the question of Southern Africa as another issue bearing grave threats to world peace. In Zimbabwe, the rights of its people to rule themselves is still being obstinately denied by the minority regime in Salisbury. In Namibia the illegal occupation of the African soil by the Pretoria regime continues, and the right of its people to self-determination and independence continues to be ignored. In South Africa itself the tragic results of the continuation of the abhorrent policy of Apartheid is being seen in the form of the massacres of the African population in Soweteo and other places. The recent developments in South Africa have again demonstrated that the denial of basic human rights of peoples will only lead to destruction and total unhappiness. Maldives will continue to support the United Nations in its efforts to change the situation in Southern Africa and we reiterate our solidarity with the peoples of Southern Africa in their just struggle for human rights and independence.
Mr. President,
The situation in the Middle East remains as a. grave disappointment to the people of Maldives On earlier occasions, my delegation has clearly indicated its rejection of the illegal occupation by Israel of the Arab territories. I wish to reaffirm this position of my Government, which is not only based on the understanding of the historical factors involved, but also based on our rejection of the idea of acquisition of territories by war. We further deplore the flagrant violation of the human rights carried out by the Israelis in the occupied. territories through systematic efforts to change the demographic composition of the Arab land. We in Maldives, being a Muslim nation are particularly hurt My by the Israeli practices in Jerusalem aimed at changing the Islamic edifices in the Holy Land. My delegation also reiterates its support to the Palestinian people who have the legitimate right to self-determination on their own national soil. We are convinced that the participation of their authentic representative - the Palestine Liberation Organization is essential in any peace-making effort aimed at a just and lasting solution which will guarantee peace and security in the area.
Mr. President,
Maldives being a maritime nation - pays special attention to the work and achievements of the Law of the Sea Conference It marks special significance in determining the status of Economic and Maritime Zones, definition of Continental Shelf and dealing with the problems related to Marine Environment. We view the achievements of the last session of the Law of the Sea Conference with optimism. It is honed that the forthcoming session in Geneva will maintain a high degree of co-ordination in order to conclude the task of the Conference.
Mr. President,
The Indian Ocean washes the shores of most countries of Asia, including ours. We have joined hands with the countries of the region to make this Ocean a Zone of Peace, free from great Power rivalry and conflict. Since the inception of the Declaration on the Indian Ocean in the United Nations, we have stood in support of all efforts made towards the practical implementation of this declaration. Further we are happy to note the interest expressed early this month by the United States and the Soviet Union in achieving practical results in their talks on this subject. We believe that their good will and cooperation will bear a significant degree of progress on this endeavor.
Mr. President,
My delegation remains deeply disturbed over the continued violation of the unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Comoros by foreign occupation of the Comorian island of Mayotte .
The question of Cyprus is another unsolved problem which has remained in our Agenda for the last several years. My delegation supports all efforts made in search of a negotiated permanent settlement of the problem. We feel that any realistic solution should take into consideration the legitimate interests of all the ethnic groups of the Cypriot community, and that it should preserve the independence and the territorial integrity of the nation.
Mr. President,
Strengthening the role of the United Nations in maintaining peace and security, fostering economic cooperation and harmonizing the international action towards a better future is not an impossible task. But that is if only we are committed seriously to the principles of the Charter, and if we could summon the will and sustain the courage to adjust the national interests to the changing perspectives of the world.
Mr. President,
Once again I reiterate my country's faith in the United Nations and its firm commitment to the principles of the Charter. I wish to express my Government's hope that the work of the thirty-second Session will be crowned with successful results compatible with the expectations of the peoples of the world.
Thank you.
