UN2K: Libyan Spokesman Abdurrahman Shalghem

THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

STATEMENT BY:

H.E. MR. ABDURRAHMAN M. SHALGHEM

Secretary of the General People's Committee for

Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation

before

The Millennium Summit of the

General Assembly

New York, New York

8 September 2000

Mr. President,

As we meet in this historical forum in a human attempt to formulate a proper vision for the future of humanity in the next millennium, we express the hope that the last century with all its scientific achievements and progress in all fields, as well as the negative impact it has had upon people and environment, will provide the guidelines for us to shape our aspirations and our dreams in a world that is free from oppression, exploitation, the destruction of earth and nature, the marginalization of millions, and ignoring their rights.

We feel that the fundamental pillar upon which we should found the world of the next millennium must be the achievement of equality for all human beings, the prevention of all forms of discrimination, and the consideration of man as the most valuable and most appreciated "unit" on earth. On the basis of this concept, children must be given greater care and attention in learning, health, and education. A child must, therefore, be provided with circumstances that allow him/her to grow up to be a healthy, free, creative, and strong human being who is reared by a harmonious family. This desirable state of affairs requires making laws that safeguard the rights of mothers and children, the right of every human being to have his/her own house, to be a partner in his/her own production, the prevention of commercialization of man's basic needs such as food and medicines, and the non-allowance of human rights to be exploited as a source of living. Furthermore, to prevent the return of colonialism, the colonial states should compensate the peoples that they colonized for the persecution inflicted upon them, the destruction caused to their environment, and for their resources and cultural properties that have been plundered.

The objective behind the establishment of the International Criminal Court is the punishment of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes against international security, but the Rome Statute is designed to try only the weak. Such a statute cannot be accepted, neither can it be signed or ratified unless it is modified in a manner that guarantees the trial of all perpetrators of acts of aggression, drug smugglers and their trade-partners, and those responsible for group massacres of innocent people, as well as those who commit aggression against international forces.

The Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines deals only with simple weapons of limited effect. We, as one of the Third World peoples who are incapable of defending our borders and our lands against the powerful who possess aircraft carriers and aircraft that refuel during flight, feel that humanity should be preoccupied with the destruction of nuclear, chemical, and germ weapons, as well as ballistic weapons, rather than being concerned with mines, which are a simple form of weaponry.

Terrorism has assumed many forms: sanctions, resort to brutal force, the threat to use such force, nuclear weapons, and arms of mass destruction, all constitute forms of terrorism, and so do the conditions imposed by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization. Therefore, in order for the international community to combat terrorism, we should, first and foremost, define terrorism and the causes which lie behind it, as well as all acts of violence. In this respect, it is imperative that the following principles be upheld:

First: Making a distinction between the various forms of terrorism, and

the people's struggle for their freedom, as well as the struggle engaged in by the persecuted groups against their persecutors,

which is seen by some as terrorism.

Second: An undertaking by all states to accept the repatriation of all persons

living in exile and refugees, to guarantee their safety, and to assist

them in resettling.

Third: Compensation for peoples, families, and individuals who fall

victim to terrorism and violence.

Fourth: Release of abducted persons and detainees, and the surrender of all

those being sought by the International Police.

Unless all such matters have been agreed upon, it is most certain that the signing or ratification of any international convention or agreement on international terrorism will be to no avail.

The creation of a world in which prosperity prevails requires commitment to the implementation of international agreements relating to the mother and child care and their protection; and the realization of a world free from motives of aggression requires prohibition of all manifestations of violence. Furthermore, in order to achieve a world liberated from epidemics and diseases, a vigorous fight must be put against dangerous diseases such as cancer, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), poliomyelitis, and malaria. Efforts must also be joined to combat the use of "white poisons" and the treatment of their addicts. Moreover, in order to protect our planet from the dangers that threaten it, we should work to stop desertification, and to eradicate pests that attack crops. We should also strive to establish low-cost water desalination systems, and an international irrigation system which prevents the flow of waters of rivers, rain, and snow to seas and oceans, allows for their distribution over land, and guarantees the greatest possible amount of food production.

In order to implement all these proposals, we would like to propose the establishment on an international fund answerable to the United Nations to which all states would contribute in accordance with their capacities, in addition to the appropriate multilateral financial institutions.

Fulfillment of the special needs of Africa necessitates abstention from exploiting its resources, the plundering of its riches, and the squandering of its wealth. It also requires non-interference in its internal affairs, and refraining from the imposition on the African Continent of alien and strange concepts to its culture. Furthermore, states which colonized Africa and enslaved its peoples must apologize to the Continent and pay full compensation for the damages inflicted by colonialism.

We feel that the United Nations cannot play an effective role in facing the challenges posed by the various international problems unless it undergoes a radical reform compatible with its Charter. For this reason, resolutions made by the General Assembly must be binding. The General Assembly must also enjoy the authority of control over all other United Nations organs, which must also be held accountable to it, including the Security Council. This Council should act as an executive tool for the implementation of the General Assembly resolutions. Furthermore, the General Assembly should approve the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. The veto right should also be subject to review in a manner that leads either to its abolishment or generalization.

In order to enable the organization to follow up the plans and programmes that it establishes, we propose the establishment of an international committee answerable to the United Nations with sub-committees that cover most parts of the world, empowered with the necessary authorities and resources, to undertake the tasks of inspection and implementation of United Nations programmes.

Such is our vision for how the world should look like in the Third Millennium. We are fully convinced that the principles and values we have put forward, coupled with the implementation of the proposals we made, will definitely lead to the creation of a world in which peace and security are realized, stability and prosperity are enhanced, diseases, ignorance, and poverty are eradicated, and before and above all, the will of all peoples is respected.

Peace be upon all of you.

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