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Strengthen World Order To Defeat Global Terrorism

New York - His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei called for the world order to be strengthened to battle global terrorism that comes not merely from criminal terrorists but from fear, injustice, loss of absolute values and from sheer rage.

His Majesty said this in his address at the General Debate of the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Saturday.

Accompanying His Majesty at the session was His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Much of His Majesty's titah focused on the urgent need to revitalise the United Nations or in other words a new reformed United Nations.

While assuring all fellow members of Brunei's continued strong support for the United Nations, His Majesty said much of the attention at almost every great international meeting for the past four years has been given to the inhuman acts of global terrorists.

Inevitably, this has focused on specific events. We in Brunei Darussalam again add our voice to the condemnation of all such

actions. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of all who have suffered losses.

"These brutal attacks extend beyond personal grief and national condemnation. They are symptomatic of many grave threats the people of the world face today. As such, they constitute nothing less than an attack on world order. For this reason, we believe it is high time world order asserted itself in modern terms.

"In other words, a new, revitalised United Nations is called for - not for us as Heads of state; nor for our diplomats; nor for any of us who are privileged and have the means, the education, and the opportunity to live in hope and confidence. Anew United Nations is needed by the ordinary citizens we are privileged to represent here.

"If world order is indeed under attack, that means ordinary people and their families are under attack and, in far too many ways, it is not merely an attack. It is a full-out assault.

"It comes not merely from criminal terrorists. It comes from many aspects of globalisation; from international crime; from new technology; from social and cultural disruption; from a rapidly degrading environment; and from the grave threats posed by the possible spread of fearful new diseases. In real, immediate human terms, it comes from fear, injustice, a loss of absolute values and from sheer rage. It is revealed in feelings of hopelessness and an almost total loss of confidence," said His Majesty.

So many of us, His Majesty added, are therefore convinced that world order must be dramatically strengthened.

Reflecting on the titah His Majesty delivered at the high level plenary meeting two days ago, the monarch said there is no greater way to begin this process than for each of us to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

"For this reason, we in Brunei Darussalam will do whatever we can to achieve them in our own country and help our neighbours do likewise," said His Majesty.

"In setting the millennium goals, we have recognised that, to re-establish world order, the root causes of anger, despair, injustice and hatred must be addressed. I would therefore once more like to commend the Secretary-General and his staff and all the United Nations agencies, both professional and volunteer, for all they have done in the field to deepen our understanding of these causes.

"These have become clearly defined in all their urgency. They are political, social, cultural and economic. In each case, we do not believe that solutions can be imposed.

"When the international community is so gravely divided on matters such as nuclear development, arms proliferation, globalisation, the environment and social injustice, this body must be the judge of whether international conduct is acceptable. Solutions to international problems must come from a truly United Nations acting in concert.

"In other words - an efficient world organisation committed to solving root causes and to insist that dialogue and negotiation are the sole means of settling disputes, no matter how long it takes, and no matter how frustrating the process may be.

"The global crisis arising from finding the best way to deal with modern, technologically-fuelled terrorism highlights this need," added His Majesty.

Understanding root causes must be a very important part of any long-term approach to terrorist activities. Every possible form of bilateral and multilateral cooperation is needed to deal with the criminals involved. But condemnation is not enough and legislation is never sufficient. Any justification for acts of terrorism must be resolutely countered, not by exchanges of opposing definitions of evil but by determination to remove any possible root cause that some may wrongly see as justifying such acts, said His Majesty.

"That is very difficult. It requires consensus here at the United Nations as to what constitutes injustice, especially historic injustice and what constitutes unfairness.

"That, in turn, demands a new reformed United Nations," His Majesty said to stress the point again to revitalise the world body.

"We are a small nation. Our interest lies in working closely with all other members. For this reason, we shall offer whatever help we can to building the broadest possible consensus in all the many far-reaching decisions that this organisation is currently called upon to make.

"The most important of these decisions at present concern the question of United Nations reform. Like many fellow members, we have long given this our strong support. In recent months, however, we have held discussions with many colleagues that go far beyond matters of principle. They deal with specific proposals.

"Most of these aim at re-designing the structure of the organisation up to and including the security Council. Our response has been the one we have always offered. We will listen with respect; we will acknowledge the good faith of all fellow members; and we will help in any way we can to achieve the broadest possible consensus.

"This, we think, is not a matter of opting out of the hard decisions that have to be made. On the contrary, we believe it serves to recognise how hard those decisions are and how important this body is to the world.

"The consensus that was reached 60 years ago was a strong one. It served the world well for many decades. It now appears very clear that, although its structure is still in place, the world -has changed enormously. A new consensus is being sought. Unlike the one reached at the end of World War Two, it is not directed at the means to maintain peace. It is aimed at creating the conditions for lasting peace. We see this as the only way for the United Nations to bring all the forces of violence and inhumanity back within a strong and just world order.

"When it is time for this assembly to decide, we in Brunei Darussalam will be considering any motion in this light," said His Majesty. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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