unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/12/89)
UN ASSEMBLY SESSION -- TAKE 7
Posting Date: 10/09/89 Copyright UNITEX Communications, 1989
UNITEX Network, USA ISSN: 1043-7932
Continuing, Mr. OHN GWAY (Myanmar) said his country supported
the proposal to hold an international peace conference on the
Middle East under United Nations auspices with the participation
of all parties concerned on an equal footing. He reiterated his
support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in
Palestine, including their right to national independence and
sovereignty. Urgent measures should be taken to provide
protection to the Palestinian civilians in the occupied Arab
territories.
He said it was imperative that the implementation of any
settlement plan for Kampuchea be carried out under the
supervision of an appropriate international mechanism.
The efforts of the developing countries to bring about a new
international economic order had to date been largely
unsuccessful, he said. The present international economic
environment remained non-conductive to the aspirations of the
developing countries.
For many developing countries the overriding concern continued to
be the impediment to development posed by external
indebtedness. A formula for dealing effectively with the
problem needed to be worked out through continuous multilateral
dialogue and shared responsibility of all. The idea of an
international debt facility was one approach, the mechanics of
which should be given serious thought.
He said the special session of the General Assembly in 1990 would
provide a significant opportunity to conduct purposeful
multilateral dialogue on the complex of issues besetting the
global economy. He hoped the 1990 special session of the
General Assembly would revitalize the North-South dialogue.
Myanmar had adopted an open-door economic policy and had
undertaken internal and external trade liberalization measures
with an increasingly important role expected to be played by the
private sector. A more open and improved international trading
system would be of great benefit to the developing countries, he
said.
Foremost among the social concerns of the international community
was the increasing threat of drugs. Myanmar had laid down a
comprehensive programme covering the whole gamut of drug control
activities, such as law enforcement, crop substitution,
livestock breeding, medical treatment, rehabilitation, education
and mass-media information.
Myanmar had recently launched an integrated rural development
programme with particular emphasis on infrastructural building,
crop substitution and overall alleviation of socio-economic
conditions. Successful implementation of the programme would
accelerate the eradication of opium cultivation. In recognition
of these efforts, the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control
had sanctioned an additional sum of $10.5 million in assistance.
In Myanmar, parallel with the strengthening of drug control
laws, large-scale military operations were being carried out
against drug traffickers and their production camps. The amount
of heroin seized as a result of the Government's campaign
totaled 100,000 kilogrammes.
Despite high praise from the United States Drug Enforcement
Agency, certain quarters had chosen to ignore the strenuous
efforts made by Myanmar and had seen fit to level unfounded
allegations, even accusing the Myanmar security forces of
collaborating with the drug traffickers. He reminded those who
had levelled those charges that the ill-gotten proceeds from drug
trafficking was the life blood of the groups waging an armed
insurgency against the Myanmar Government.
Appeals had been made during this Assembly that democracy be
restored in Myanmar through free elections, as well as an urgent
need for the restoration of human rights and democracy. He
wanted to assure the entire world that that was precisely the
objective of the Myanmar Government.
The people of Myanmar had manifested their desire for a
multi-party democracy and political reforms. His Government had
responded positively and had instituted a far-reaching reforms.
The single-party political system had been abolisehd, an
independent Multi-party Democracy General Elections Commission
had been constituted.
A political parties registration law had been promulgated and to
date more than 200 political parties had been registered. A
fixed timetable had been announced setting out various
preparatory measures prior to the democratic elections not later
than May 1990. An independent judiciary had been
re-established; the functions of the Attorney-General had been
institutionalized; the civil service had been depoliticized.
Assurances had been repeatedly given at the highest level that
elections would be held as scheduled, he said, adding that he
was authorized to reaffirm the commitment before this Assembly
and through it to the world.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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