From: wolda002@umn.edu
Date: Tue Sep 29 2009 - 23:54:35 EDT
UN should not interfere in the internal affairs of States- PM
Sri Lanka has called on the UN to respect Article 2 (7) of the UN charter
which says that the UN should not interfere in the internal affairs of a
State. Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Saturday, Prime
Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka asserted that multilateralism is not
about the UN agenda responding only to the demands of a minority of
powerful States, but also defending the interest of the powerless majority.
“It is also imperative that the prohibition reflected in the Article 2
(7) of the Charter that the UN should not interfere in the internal affairs
of States be respected. The Charter must be our guiding norm since it is
the Charter that keeps us together. Non interference in the internal
affairs of states must be respected at all times,” the Premier said.
He also said that the reform of the United Nations and the UN Security
Council must be a high priority. The Sri Lankan delegation, he said,
believes that the objective of the reform process should be to strengthen
multilateralism and to promote greater democracy, transparency,
effectiveness and accountability within a more democratic United Nations
system. He added that in tandem measures need to be taken to pursue the
four pillars that are fundamental to the future as enunciated by President
Obama.
Sri Lanka also called for concerted and well-coordinated efforts by the
international community to stop multifaceted criminal networks of terrorist
organizations and the finalization of ongoing negotiations of the draft
comprehensive convention on terrorism.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka called for a revision of existing
international laws pertaining to the boarding and searching of vessels in
the high sea.
Speaking in Singhalese in the presence of the world leader and a Sri Lankan
delegation which included Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Prime
Minister noted that much of the funding the LTTE had received came from
overseas through a complex range of criminal activities, amongst them, drug
and human trafficking, arms procurement and illicit trade.
Prime Minister Wickramanayaka said significant development had taken place
in Sri Lanka this past year, and he took the floor “with renewed hope and
optimism for my country”.
“As terrorism was a transnational criminal network and a shared global
challenge, this accomplishment not only meant peace and security for Sri
Lanka but to all nations throughout the world. One of the highest
priorities after the defeat of LTTE was to meet the humanitarian needs of
the displaced civilians,” he said.
The Prime Minister went on to say that from past mistakes and experiences,
in order to ensure a safe and sustainable resettlement, Sri Lanka had
learned such restoration programmes could not be rushed. Because of LTTE
landmines and other explosives placed in civilian areas, the time-consuming
and meticulous process of demining was under way.
Continuing, he stated that long term peace and security would only be
successful if reconciliation took place. Sri Lanka was committed to taking
all measures, according to international human rights standards, to ensure
such actions were taken, and he was pleased to note that, in three months,
significant progress had been made.
He also expressed disappointment at the little progress made with the
implementation of resolutions regarding the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people to statehood, but felt encouraged by President Obama’s
remarks on the issue. In such a critical time, he urged Member States to
“mobilize the political will to shed our differences and work in a spirit
of cooperation to respond effectively and swiftly to the challenges that
confront us”. (ER)
CLICK LINK TO SEE FULL VIDEO:
http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2009/ga090926pm1-orig.rm?start=00:56:08&end=01:24:09
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