Speech
of H.E. Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the Hon'ble
Adviser for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Expatriate
Welfare and Overseas Employment and the CHT Affairs
The
Commemoration of the UN Day
Bangladesh-China
Friendship Conference Centre
24 October 2007
Hon'ble
Chief Adviser, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
At
the outset, I would like to thank the Office of the
UN Resident Coordinator for inviting me to participate
in the observance of the United Nations Day. I feel
deeply honored and privileged thereby.
Since
its inception in 1945, the UN has been a catalyst
of positive transformation. During the cold war, it
successfully contained a nuclear falling out and arms
race in the outer space. The UN spearheaded international
disarmament efforts, both in conventional and non-conventional
weapons. The world now has a comprehensive set of
legally binding documents, restricting proliferation
of nuclear, chemical, biological and toxic weapons.
The credit goes to the UN for its relentless pursuit
of peace. In the recent years, the Organization has
devoted its efforts to curb small arms and light weapons.
We are soon, likely to have an omnibus Arms Trade
Treaty.
The
UN's strength lies in its ability to reinvent itself,
and to respond to new and emerging challenges. The
post-Cold War era has witnessed the Organization shift
its locus from disarmament to development. The Millennium
Development Goals - conceived and adopted by the UN
- has brought development to its center stage. We
now have clear benchmarks, indicators and timeline
before us for eradicating poverty. The responsibility
to achieve the MDGs is a shared one. Unlike our preceding
generation, we now believe that peace and development
are mutually reinforcing. Because of the UN and its
multilateral character, the world no longer views
prosperity as a zero-sum game. Trade no longer presents
a 'beggar-thy-neigbour' mindset. In many part of the
world, it has now become the engine of growth.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
As
you are perhaps aware, Bangladesh has recently been
elected as the Coordinator of the LDC Group. As the
LDC Chairman, we will represent the hopes and aspiration
of over 600 million people in 50 of the world's least
developed economies. This leadership position will
afford us the opportunity to foster the interests
of this vulnerable group, particularly in the areas
of trade, market access and development assistance.
We have already assumed the responsibility. I recently
chaired a Ministerial meeting of the Group during
my presence in New York for the current UNGA,. We
discussed the priorities for implementation of the
Brussels Programme of Action. Bangladesh, as the LDC
Chair, will partner with the UN, especially with the
Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs
and SIDCs, to make a strong case for market access
and aid for trade issues in WTO and other international
forums.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
The
UN has always managed to find new causes to serve
the interest of the humanity. One of its more recent
landmark achievements has been the UN Convention Against
Corruption or UNCAC. The work began in 2000 and after
three years of deliberations, the world body adopted
the Convention that criminalizes corruption. This
marked a significant shift in the global mindset.
The Convention also sees corruption as a violation
of human rights and as a transnational crime. It ensures
that there is no safe heaven for the corrupts and
incorporates stringent measures for their extradition
and prosecution. UNCAC also includes effective measures
for asset recovery. As you are aware, the current
caretaker government made it an absolute priority
to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption. On
27 February this year, we became a state party to
the convention. We are confident that the norms and
standards set out in the Convention would help us
eradicate corruption from Bangladesh.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
One
of the fundamental objectives of the UN, as you know,
is to prevent the scourge of war. But with social
evolution, communication technology and shifts in
inter-state relations, war itself has changed its
characteristics. Intra-state conflicts, insurgency,
low-intensity violence, terrorism have taken the place
of conventional warfare. The UN has also adapted to
these intrinsic changes. During the past two decades,
more so since 9/11, UN has steered the global consensus
to adopt 13 conventions and instruments on terrorism.
We are party to all 13 of them. Bangladesh has also
been pro-active on peacekeeping and peace-building
efforts. Our peacekeepers have actively contributed
to restoring peace and stability in 26 countries.
Indeed we have consistently been one of the top two
contributors in terms of personnel to UN Peace Keeping
Mission, which is a matter of no small pride to the
nation.
Bangladesh,
has been a strong proponent of promoting a 'Culture
of Peace'. We spearhead a resolution on this at the
UN General Assembly. Bangladesh advocates a responsible
and holistic approach on all disarmament issues. Through
the resolution on Culture of Peace, we seek to promote
a world of tolerance and understanding among differing
civilizations, cultures and faiths. During the 61st
UNGA, our initiative received an overwhelming support
and drew a record co-sponsorship of 114 States.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
Our
shared existence now faces a new and imminent threat.
Global warming and consequent climate change is no
longer a scientific conjecture. The scientific community
has established beyond reasonable doubts that the
temperature rise will affect all of us. The UN has
led the process to raise global awareness of the issue.
Bangladesh applauds the Nobel Committee's decision
to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the Inter-governmental
Panel on Climate Change of the UN and Mr. Al Gore.
This is a befitting recognition of the UN's relentless
efforts to combat climate change.
In
his speech at the High Level Dialogue on Climate Change
during the 62nd UNGA, the Hon'ble Chief Adviser made
a strong case for the concerns of the low-lying coastal
countries. We have also recommended that allocation
of resources for meeting the adaptation costs must
take account both the vulnerability factors and the
likely number of affected persons. Bangladesh will
continue to work with the UN to protect the interests
of the low-lying littoral states, on the terms indicated
by the Chief Adviser.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
Bangladesh
has always followed the path of moderation in international
relations. We have always maintained that the energies
and resources of the international community should
be spent on peace and development. We are pleased
that today the world views us as a responsible international
actor where and when necessary, we have kept post-conflict
peace and helped build foundations of development
in those regions drawing from our own grassroot level
experience. We share humanity; aspirations for a prosperous
world free of strife and conflict and full of cooperation
and hope. Is it too much to ask? I think not. For,
has it not been aptly said, man's reach should exceed
his grasp, for what else are the heavens for?
Thank
you all.
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