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President in Address to UN General Assembly : 

My Government has got a clear mandate for peace

From Manjula Fernando in New York

"My Government has obtained a clear mandate at numerous elections to end the war and to bring about a negotiated settlement of the conflict that would satisfy all the people of Sri Lanka founded on democracy, respect for human rights, a pluralist polity and good governance.

"We are fully aware that Peace is not achieved easily. It is a constant struggle for mutual understanding and reconciliation, and the establishment of the Rule of Law, Justice and Equality", said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in her Address to the 59th United Nations General Assembly Sessions at the UN Headquarters in New York yesterday.

She said: The Sri Lankan Government is committed to reach a negotiated settlement with the LTTE, a settlement that would satisfy all the peoples of Sri Lanka founded on democracy, the respect for human rights, a pluralist polity and society and good governance, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga declared yesterday.

President Kumaratunga said: "My government has obtained a clear mandate at numerous elections to end the war and to bring a negotiated settlement to the country. We are fully aware that Peace is not achieved easily, that Peace is a constant struggle for mutual understanding, reconciliation, and to establish the rule of law, justice and equality."

The President observed that peace is not the simple absence of war. It entails an active engagement to make every effort to understand the root-causes that endanger peace and generate conflict. It also requires resolute action for consensus building in order to arrive at a sustainable solution that guarantees a lasting peace.

"In Sri Lanka, my government has implemented serious programmes to engage the armed group, the LTTE in comprehensive peace negotiations for 10 long years. This process has seen successes and setbacks. Armed hostilities have been halted for the past 2 1/2 years under a Ceasefire Agreement.

"The Government of Norway is playing the role of facilitator for the negotiation process for nearly six years. We have taken the process forward with the active participation of Norway, even though at present the LTTE is refusing to return to the negotiating table from which it withdrew nearly 18 months ago," the President said.

She expressed her gratitude to the international community for its support to the peace process. "While Norway is playing an extremely essential role in facilitating talks between the government and the armed group, others such as India, Japan, the USA and the EU together with UN Agencies and some international non governmental organizations are deeply involved with the development and rehabilitation process of the war affected areas as well as in the poverty alleviation programmes in the rest of the country."

Sri Lanka is firmly committed to the global endeavour to fight terrorism, she stressed. The Government was also attempting to address the issue of the recruitment of child soldiers by the LTTE. She said that political consensus building, reconciliation, rehabilitation and the promotion of the rule of law are essential for democracy to take root.

The President called for reforms to the UN, saying Sri Lanka believes in the UN and its potential to be the principal forum where the voice of the poor, defenceless and the weak is also heard as much as the voice of the rich and powerful. "We recognise, therefore, the need for reform to render the United Nations more responsive to the needs and aspirations of all of its member States."

Referring to the Security Council, she said as presently constituted, it does not reflect the current geo-political realities. Reform has to be comprehensive and should not be confined to the question of enlargement of the Security Council alone. "For many years, most of the member States, particularly the developing countries have consistently urged that the composition of the Security Council be broadened to accommodate the basic principles of democratic representation.

This includes adequate representation of developing countries. In this context, we observe that Asia, the most populous continent that is home to expanding economic power houses in the world, is grossly under-represented in the present Council."

She also called for a "larger and more active role" for the General Assembly.

"In a rapidly changing world economy and strategic environment, the UN however must meet the emerging challenges. It has a pivotal contribution to make in providing the political, legal and moral force underpinning the collective efforts of the member States towards creating a world where human rights freedom and equitable development are promoted and protected."

Referring to other developments in Sri Lanka, the President said the Government's economic strategy is market driven but geared to achieve human development and prosperity at the grass roots level.

"We have crafted a policy and launched programmes to channel development efforts and resources to domestic capacity builders at village level who we consider the pillars of our national economy."

She also highlighted Sri Lanka's achievements in terms of health and education.

"We are disturbed to witness religious symbols being defamed or abused for commercial purposes.

"The recent phenomenon of using Buddhist symbols for promotional work in the entertainment industry, thus causing concern and pain of mind among the Buddhists all over the world is a case in point," she said. Fortunately, most of these organisations have agreed to refrain from such abuse in the future.

"We propose that the United Nations should call upon those responsible to pay due respect to religious symbols and practices. This would be a fitting contribution by the UN to its own initiative on a dialogue among civilizations," she added.

"My commitment, and that of my government and the people of Sri Lanka, to the United Nations remains undiminished. My hope is that all member States will cooperate fully with the United Nations to realize the goals of the Millennium Declaration," she concluded.

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Full text of President's Address to the 59th Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York

Mr. President,

I congratulate you on your assumption of the high office of President of the Fifty-Ninth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations and assure you of Sri Lanka's fullest support and cooperation as you undertake the onerous responsibility of presiding over the deliberations of this august assembly.

I also thank the outgoing President, Honourable Julian Hunte, for his able and efficient conduct of the Fifty Eighth Session.

Mr. President, Distinguished delegates,

The International Day of Peace we celebrate today is indeed a significant event in the UN calendar. It is a Day dedicated to the creation and pursuit of a culture of peace. As I speak today in this Hall of Peace, men, women and children in my country are celebrating the Day of Peace through a wide variety of civil society events. Prayers and meditations, the resonating chimes of bells and the gentle glow of candlelight are powerful symbols of our deep collective yearning for peace.

We recognize that the pursuit of peace requires more than symbols. It requires consistent commitment, patience, perseverance and, above all, resolute action and consensus building.

Mr. President, peace and resolution of conflict through dialogue takes centre stage in our lives and hence need to be accorded the highest priority on the UN Agenda. All of us here are only too aware that peace is not the simple absence of war, it entails an active engagement to understand the root-causes that endanger peace and generate conflict.

In Sri Lanka, my government has implemented a series of programmes to engage the armed group, the LTTE, in comprehensive peace negotiations for ten years. This process has had its successes and setbacks. Armed hostilities have been halted for the past two-and-a-half years under a Ceasefire Agreement. A comprehensive development strategy has been launched in the North and East of the country which are affected by the conflict.

The Government of Norway has been playing the role of facilitator for the negotiation process for nearly six years. We have taken the process forward with the active participation of Norway, even though at present the LTTE is refusing to return to the negotiating table from which it withdrew nearly eighteen months ago. We deeply appreciate the strong support we have received and continue to receive from the international community.

While Norway is playing an essential facilitatory role, others such as India, Japan, the EU, the US, UN Agencies and some international non-governmental organizations are deeply involved with the development and rehabilitation process of the war affected areas. They are also engaged in poverty alleviation programmes in the rest of the country.

My government has obtained a clear mandate at numerous elections to end the war and to bring about a negotiated settlement of the conflict that would satisfy all the people of Sri Lanka founded on democracy, respect for human rights, a pluralist polity and good governance.

We are fully aware that peace is not achieved easily. It is a constant struggle for mutual understanding and reconciliation, and the establishment of the rule of law, justice and equality.

The Buddha, popularly known as the Prince of Peace, has preached at length about peace and all that is required to achieve it both within each individual and between nations.

I quote from the Dhammapada:"Victory breeds hatred. The defeated live in pain. Happily the peaceful live, giving up victory and defeat.".

Mr. President, Global developments that provide the context of this Session, present a mixed picture. While economic and human development efforts in some countries have made progress, political processes undertaken to bring peaceful resolution to conflicts have been plagued by continuing violence, in others.

Mr. President,We are deeply saddened at the violence, instability, loss of life and human suffering in Iraq. We in Sri Lanka know, and have experienced first hand, the impact of violence on society and the difficulty in finding solutions to problems of governance that satisfy all parties. Security measures alone, as pointed out recently by the Secretary-General's special representative to Iraq, will not suffice to end violence and create stability and peace. Political consensus building, reconciliation, rehabilitation and the promotion of the rule of law are essential for democracy to take root.

Equally important, in today's interdependent, increasingly globalized world is the commitment of the international community to remain engaged and ensure that Iraq does not become further plagued by violence and fragmented on ethnic or religious lines.

Mr. President, All of us as leaders, and above all as mothers and fathers, can never forget the sheer brutality of the terrorist attack earlier this month on a school in the Russian Federation which led to the loss of so many lives of children and adults.

Terrorism in all its manifestations must be condemned and fought relentlessly and globally. While no cause justifies terror unleashed upon the innocent, such outrages must make us redouble our efforts to address their root causes and seek political and socio economic explanations and solutions to them.We are currently engaged in this task in Sri Lanka.

My Government is firmly committed to the global endeavour to fight terrorism. We have signed and ratified the UN Conventions aimed at combating this menace and we continue to contribute to the process, by Chairing the Ad Hoc Committee on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism. We hope that at this session of the General Assembly, substantial progress could be made on the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the draft Convention on Nuclear Terrorism.

Mr. President, Sri Lanka believes in the UN and its potential to be the principal forum where the voice of the poor, the defenceless and the weak is also heard as much as the voice of the rich and powerful. We look to the United Nations - its Specialized Agencies and programmes - together with international civil society, as the institutions that are capable of empowering people and promoting their rights, advancing free and fair trade, and forging a new level of international cooperation, with a shared responsibility for global governance and collective action for peace and security.

We recognize therefore, the need for reform to render the United Nations more responsive to the needs and aspirations of all of its member States. We look forward to the recommendations to be presented to this Session of the General Assembly by the 'High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change', appointed by the Secretary-General.

There is general agreement that the Security Council, as presently constituted, does not reflect the current geo-political realities. Reform has to be comprehensive and should not be confined to the question of enlargement of the Security Council alone.

However, we share the concern over the lack of progress on the question of equitable regional representation and the increase in the membership of the Security Council, in both the permanent and non-permanent categories.

For many years, most of the member States, particularly the developing countries, have consistently urged that the composition of the Security Council be broadened to accommodate the basic principles of democratic representation. This includes adequate representation of developing countries. In this context, we observe that Asia, the most populous continent that is home to expanding economic powerhouses is grossly under-represented in the present Council.

Mr. President, we take note that four countries - Brazil, Germany, India and Japan - will announce their participation in a compact in terms of which they will collectively support their respective candidatures for permanent status in an expanded Security Council. Sri Lanka supports their candidatures, as each of them complies with one or more of the objective criteria applicable to the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council.

It is hoped that the Open Ended Working Group would continue to exert efforts to resolve all outstanding issues expeditiously. Sri Lanka would also wish to see a consensus emerging on the permanent representation of Africa in the Security Council.

Africa must be included when a final determination is reached on the future composition of the Security Council.

We also believe that the General Assembly, which is representative of all member States of the UN should have a larger and more active role to play as a deliberative and decision-making body.

Mr. President,.At the dawn of the new millennium, four years ago, we forged a consensus to pursue a vision of an inclusive globalization process that provides benefits for the widest possible segments of society. Leaving aside the common place clich,s about globalization, we agreed on a number of goals to be implemented within specific time frames. My government's economic and social development programmes were planned and put into action ten years ago.

We have now made the necessary changes to align our plans more closely with the UN's Millennium Development Goals. The Sri Lankan Government's strategy for development seeks a constructive partnership between a strong and accountable private sector, including foreign investment, and a robust and responsive public sector. The major thrust of our vision is to eliminate poverty, reduce inequalities, enhance the standard of living among the different sectors of our population, thus providing equal opportunities for all.

Through decades of free education and health services, Sri Lanka has already made significant strides in achieving some of the Millennium Development Goals in certain areas of human development in the spheres of education, health and nutrition.

In the field of education, my government's new education reforms plan which commenced implementation in 1998, as well as achievements since independence have ensured gender equality in both primary and secondary education, a literacy rate of 92% and school attendance of 98% up to end of primary school. We also have a wide network of vocational training centres and programmes for non-formal education.

The UN Special Session on Children held in 2002, which I had the privilege to attend, arrived at important decisions with regard to the advancement and protection of child rights. It was decided that all member States should prepare and implement an action plan for children from 2004 - 2008. We have recently launched Sri Lanka's Action Plan for Children which we believe would contribute to creating a world fit for children as decided at the Special Session in 2002.

Mr. President, on the subject of social progress, I must commend the United Nations for its continued commitment and perseverance in promoting and protecting children's rights. Apart from guaranteeing the rights of every child to education and good health services, Sri Lanka believes that children must be protected from abuse of all types, sexual, alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

Children in some of our countries suffer from the ignominious practice of being used as child soldiers. We are addressing this problem by seeking to engage the LTTE in the process of negotiation and by supporting the activities spear headed by UNICEF and civil society organizations working on this issue..Our economic strategy is market driven but geared to achieve human development and prosperity at the grass roots level.

We have crafted a policy and launched programmes to channel development efforts and resources to domestic capacity builders at the village level who are the pillars of our national economy.

Over 60 percent of our population belongs to the rural sector and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Promotion of small and medium scale enterprises is therefore vital to sustain development. Sri Lanka draws strength from the recognition the United Nations has granted for the small and medium industrialists in the developing world through the declaration of 2005 as the Year for Micro-Credit.

Mr. President, the Millennium Declaration Goals have given to the United Nations and member States a massive and challenging task. While the United Nations has been criticized by some, many have praised the Organisation..All agree that the United Nations remains an indispensable instrument for preserving international peace and security and promoting socio-economic development, social justice and human rights.

In a rapidly changing world economy and strategic environment, the UN however must meet the emerging challenges. It has a pivotal contribution to make in providing the political, legal and moral force underpinning the collective efforts of the member States towards creating a world where human rights, freedom and equitable development are promoted and protected.

It is perhaps in such an environment that those who suffer from deprivation and marginalisation will reject the advocacy of violence offered by extremists and terrorist groups as the only instrument of change. To this end, the UN can make a collective contribution. We expect the UN to epitomize the force of law not the rule of force.

However, we cannot expect the UN to deliver what the member States fail to support. The UN can do what its member States want it to do; no more, no less.

We witness with concern the emergence of a contrived association of certain religious beliefs with some groups of fanatics. Extremism, violence and terrorism are the complete anti-thesis of the ethical and spiritual foundation of all religious philosophies and practices. We should work resolutely to prevent these aberrations from becoming irreversible trends.

On the other hand, Mr. President, we are disturbed to witness religious symbols being defamed or abused for commercial purposes. Whether the symbols belong to the Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish or any other faith, such abuse should be condemned and prohibited.

The recent phenomenon of Buddhist symbols being used for commercial purposes, thus causing concern and pain of mind to Buddhists all over the world is a case in point. Fortunately, most of these organizations have agreed to refrain from such abuse in the future.

Sri Lanka together with other like-minded States has brought this situation to the attention of UNESCO and other relevant inter-governmental bodies. We propose that the United Nations should call upon those responsible to pay due respect to religious symbols and practices. This would be a fitting contribution by the UN to its own initiative on a `dialogue among civilizations.'

This year Sri Lanka will begin events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our membership of the United Nations that falls in 2005. On that occasion, we will renew our commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

We expect the Organisation to provide leadership in the task of creating a world where understanding and harmony prevails with economic, scientific and technological advancement.

My commitment, and that of my government and the people of Sri Lanka, to the United Nations remains undiminished. Our hope, Mr. President, is that all member States will cooperate fully with the United Nations to realize the goals of the Millennium Declaration.

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