GL at United Nations General Assembly:
Developing nations require greater focus
Sri Lanka believes that in the settlement of international disputes,
action must be based on the fundamental principle of sovereign equality
of states, a principle firmly enshrined in the United Nations Charter,
External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said.
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Prof. G. L.
Peiris |
The External Affairs Minister was addressing the 67th Session of the
UN General Assembly, yesterday.
He regretted that the noticeable recent tendency to selectively and
arbitrarily intervene in the internal affairs of states flies in the
face of this principle and dilutes the confidence so carefully nurtured
in the UN system.
Dealing with the challenge of the global financial crisis, Minister
Peiris emphasized that it is of the greatest importance to ensure that
any strategies employed to achieve recovery, do not impose unjustifiable
burdens on developing countries, as they strive to achieve better living
conditions for their people.
He stressed that a recovery without uplifting the developing
countries simultaneously will be unsustainable. In this context, he
regretted that it is paradoxical that it is the same countries where the
financial crisis originated, which now seek to provide policy
prescriptions to others.
While observing that the voices of developing countries are an
important element to this end, he stressed that there cannot be a "one
size fits all" approach, and therefore the views of all and the
experiences of the successful, especially the newly emerging economies,
must be taken into account.
Minister Peiris noted that many countries of the South have weathered
the financial storm successfully by the lessons learnt from the previous
crises and precautionary measures to minimize the negative impacts of
the current crisis have been taken.
He pointed out that Sri Lanka's economy, which has been carefully
managed during this period, is an Asian economy which has recorded
impressive gains by achieving a growth rate of 8.2 percent in 2011. He
also referred to the fact that since the end of the terrorist conflict
in 2009, an area in the former theatre of conflict, the Northern
Province recorded a 27 percent GDP growth in 2011, towards which the
exponential boom in agriculture and fisheries has contributed
substantially.
Speaking on the relationship of environment with sustainable
development, Minister Peiris warned that the transition to a green
economy must not generate negative externalities that would retard
economic growth, perpetuate societal inequity and poverty. Therefore, he
said, developing countries under North-South Development Co-operation
mechanisms need to be assisted by taking into account global initiatives
to mitigate the adverse consequences of too rigid an application of
relevant economic principles.
With regard to Sri Lanka, he observed that almost 22 percent of the
land area has been conserved as forest cover with the goal of increasing
it to 35 percent by 2020 and the country's carbon footprint being a
meagre 0.6 tons per head and simultaneously, will achieve the goal of
energy for all in 2012 while realizing a 20 percent saving through
efficiency measures.
Further, to achieve sustainable development he stated that no
constraining conditions should be applied to development models or
approaches adopted by countries while eradicating poverty.
Having observed that Sri Lanka's balanced socio-economic policy
strategies propelled the country to middle-income status a few years
ago, Minister Peiris outlined that this achievement has been facilitated
by employing a unique development strategy empowering citizens, with
special attention to social development needs.
This, he said, has continued to achieve transformational change in
the lives of its people by effectively mobilizing available resources
and through the delivery of sustainable and citizen-centered programmes.
Sri Lanka has emphasized synergistic interactions between healthcare
and education, public infrastructure development, including improved
water and sanitation, and transport and communication, especially under
an integrated regional development approach. He referred to the fact
that Sri Lanka enjoys a 98% literacy rate with the score for girls being
higher, and the ICT literacy rate is following a path of exponential
growth, with cellular phone penetration being over 100%.
The Minister observed that the investments, which brought these
results, are essential if States are to build a healthy, literate,
productive and entrepreneurial human resource base and the success of
this strategy is reflected in Sri Lanka's high-ranking in the human
development index.
Though it was a challenging task for Sri Lanka to balance resource
mobilization while fighting a war against terrorism, Minister Peiris
pointed out that the Government has launched many progressive
programmes, especially on poverty reduction and citizen empowerment.
He cited the need to ensure that the fruits of economic development
are equally distributed and are accessible, especially to the most
vulnerable sectors of society and therefore facilitated social mobility
to penetrate deep into the rural sector.
The Minister outlined the action taken in facing the challenges by a
society emerging from the shadow of a sustained conflict which spanned
three decades, and entering an era of peace and stability.
He referred to the significant diminution of these challenges and the
brevity of the period which had elapsed since the end of the conflict,
leaving no room for doubt as to the degree of success achieved by the
Government of Sri Lanka in respect of a wide range of issues relating to
development and reconciliation.
He explained that prioritization was a central feature of the
Government's plan of action. Professor Peiris observed that the progress
on the ground is quite apparent with regard to the complete resettlement
of internally displaced persons, the re-integration into society of
thousands of ex-combatants after exposure to programmes of livelihood
skills training which equipped them to earn their living with dignity
and independence, the rapid completion of the demining process, and the
unprecedented focus on infrastructure development leading to very
visible invigoration of the economy of the Island as a whole, and the
Northern Province in particular.
Minister Peiris said that the dynamic leadership and unwavering
commitment of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, provided for
an effective political and military strategy and strong rapport with all
sections of the public, making it possible to prevail against the most
ruthless forces of terror.
He stated that unhelpful external pressures which support narrow
partisan interests could easily derail the result oriented initiatives,
as the country begins a new and exciting chapter in its history.
Professor Peiris observed that all current endeavours should seek a
stronger focus on children and youth who are the custodians of our
future. Therefore, empowering them with marketable skills, including
knowledge of new technologies and vocational training, he said, would
enable them to be independent contributors to Sri Lanka's economy.
Therefore, he was of the view that the strong link between education
and vocational training policies has created a conducive environment for
the younger generation to spearhead even the global development
strategies.
Recognizing terrorism to remain a scourge in the contemporary world,
threatening societies and impeding socio-economic progress of peoples,
the Minister warned that in the collective quest of the international
community for its eradication, selective application of principles and
double standards must be avoided. He therefore pledged Sri Lanka's
continued support of all multilateral efforts to eliminate all forms of
terrorism to enhance peace and security.
He outlined the close links which had developed with terrorism citing
links with transnational organized crime including in cyber space,
environment, maritime piracy, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in
persons and drugs.
Pointing out maritime piracy being a major threat to international
sea lanes, he upheld that since piracy originates on land, any solution
for it must also address its causes on land.
The Minister referred to the necessity of collectively addressing the
pull and push factors for the illicit transportation of migrants by
criminal networks.
He explained that Sri Lanka has now implemented a National Action
Plan to counteract human smuggling and trafficking, and has been
cooperating in capacity building and law enforcement and the exchange of
best practices.
He upheld the necessity to share information in good faith,
acknowledging that a variety of national interests of member countries
are essential to counter the sophisticated human smuggling rings.
Minister Peiris unreservedly condemned the defamation of all
religions and religious leaders. While pointing out the right to free
speech as being fundamental to value systems, he stated that this should
not be abused to hurt the religious beliefs of the followers of
Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism or other faiths.
He underscored the necessity for all available mechanisms to be
employed in preventing the defamation of all religions and exploitation
of religious symbols for commercial purposes.
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