September 29, 2009 15:37 PM

Anifah Calls For Non-Proliferation And Disarmament At UN General Assembly

BY Manik Mehta

NEW YORK, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman in his maiden speech at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly Monday night described the non-proliferation and disarmament as "cornerstones of peace and security".

Anifah said that at the heart of the efforts aimed at achieving the two goals was a "basic bargain" comprising three elements: that all nations have the right to peacefully use nuclear power, that nations possessing nuclear weapons must move towards disarmament, and those without nuclear weapons must disavow from acquiring them.

He said Malaysia drew hope from any action by the major powers such as the agreement between the US and Russia to reduce their nuclear stockpiles.

"We also look forward to other measures to strengthen this bargain, including by strengthening the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other international instruments related to disarmament and non-proliferation.

"We will also participate actively in the NPT Review Conference in 2010 and play our rightful role as the president of the IAEA's (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board of Governors," he asserted.

Anifah, who comes to New York at a time when the United States and other Western countries are mired in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, urged the developed world to join forces to overcome the crisis.

"I believe that the developing world is not shirking its responsibilities to address the entire spectrum of challenges facing us. But our efforts will be far more effective if done in tandem with the developed world," he maintained.

To achieve this end, he called for "fair terms".

"Give us the tools and we will help finish the job. Invest in our common future and all our children and humanity henceforth will reap the rewards," he said.

Climate change, this century's "burning issue" which is long going to engage the UN, also cropped up in Anifah's address.

"We (in Malaysia) are, in the context of mitigation action, protecting and preserving our rainforests through sustainable forest management. We are increasing the use of public transport as part of the relevant ministry's key performance indicator. We are also increasing the usage of renewable energy sources and promoting greater energy efficiency.

"Our Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications has been transformed into the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water," he pointed out.

However, he made it clear that the ball was in the developed world's court.

"It is the developed world that must play the leading role in the global effort to combat climate change. But, sadly, this leadership has been lacking.

"The developed countries' pledges for cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fall short of what is required to tackle increasing global temperatures," he reminded.

The forthcoming Copenhagen conference on climate change is being heatedly debated in UN circles.

Anifah stressed that the deal had to be finalised in Copenhagen, but this could not be achieved if the developed world continued to attempt to re-interpret and re-negotiate key principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

He also stressed the need to balance development, food security and poverty eradication on the one hand, and environmental considerations on the other.

"Let us not make glib statements that one perfectly complements the other."

He cited the example of agricultural production which produced 14 per cent of GHG emissions.

He said the world food system was still in crisis, with major food grains still sold at above-average prices.

Consequently, one could not treat climate change as a "stand alone subject", and it must be seen as part of the broader sustainable development challenge.

Then there is the Palestinian dispute. Arguing that grave injustices were the cause of breaches of peace and threats to security, Anifah said that "we must accept that the Palestinian issue epitomises everything that is unjust and unfair in international relations".

He urged the US to play the role of an honest broker in the Palestinian dispute with Israel.

"We hold much hope for a more even-handed approach by the US on the Middle East. We expect to be able to be part of a just and comprehensive solution, and that the reality of action by the US matches its rhetoric."

The foreign minister also dwelt on the question of UN reforms which have been moving at a painfully slow pace, saying that decisions at the UN were "still made by the few for the many".

"The prime example of this is the UN Security Council. We believe that reforming the Security Council, including the eventual abolition of the veto, is critical if the aspiration of equality of states is to be achieved," he said.

Speaking in the aftermath of the recent G-20 conference in Pittsburgh, Anifah reminded that Malaysia, in the wake of the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, was the first to articulate many of the thrusts of the G-20's work, such as reform of the Bretton Woods institutions and strengthening the international financial regulatory system.

He called on the G-20 to simultaneously address ways of improving links with the broader international community, and provide greater clarity on the involvement of regional organisations.

Anifah said Malaysia would use its presidency of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) fully next year to address the issues, adding that this would be done in a cooperative and action-oriented manner.

-- BERNAMA

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