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Mr. President,
This
month, the Council has made important advances in putting out the fires in
several African conflict
situations, including through the adoption of resolutions on Somalia, Liberia
and Angola.
2. It was not possible this month, however, to promote implementation of the
four recent resolutions adopted
by the Security Council, in particular resolution 1397. Its vision of two
states, Israel and Palestine living side by side with secure and recognized
borders is one that is widely shared. It is essential to identify the elements
of a final settlement to establish appropriate time-lines for this realization.
3. Despite the successes of the coalition forces, there remain complex and
multiple threats to peace and security in Afghanistan. We welcome the six-month
extension of ISAF’s mandate under resolution 1413. We would have wished that
ISAF’s responsibilities could also have been extended beyond Kabul to other
major cities. We trust that the construction of an Afghan national army and
police force, to which Pakistan is contributing, will be sufficient to ensure a
successful the Bonn process. Fulfillment of the financial pledges pledged at
Tokyo is the most vital pre-condition for success in the endeavour to promote
peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
4. Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility to
address threats to international peace and security. Sadly, the Security Council
has been unable to address the most serious current threat—the threat by India
to attack Pakistan. India has mobilized most of its massive ground, air and
naval forces in battle-ready formations against Pakistan. We have been obliged
to respond. India’s Prime Minister has threatened a “decisive battle” against
Pakistan. Other leaders have repeatedly threatened punitive strikes, hot pursuit
and other use
of force. War stares the world in the face.
Mr. President,
5. Pakistan is eager to take an alternative path—the path to peace. President
Pervez Musharraf stated again, yesterday, “It will be my utmost endeavour to
avoid conflict. It (conflict) will take place only if it is initiated by India.
We will not be the initiators, this is my guarantee.” We hope that India will
choose it too. The steps along the peace path are clear.
6. Pakistan has declared that nothing is happening on the Line of Control. We
have suggested that UNMOGIP
should be strengthened—from present 43 to any required number—to monitor the
Line of Control on both sides.
Alternatively, some other impartial mechanism—for instance, an adequately manned
and equipped helicopter-borne force—can be accepted by India and Pakistan to
monitor the LoC.
7. Pakistan’s assurance should be accompanied by the immediate de-escalation and
progressive and mutual
withdrawal of forces by India and Pakistan to their normal peacetime locations.
The threat to peace will subside only once such de-escalation takes place.
8. Thereafter, further mutual steps could be taken. On the one hand, to end the
repression by Indian forces in occupied Jammu & Kashmir and provide access for
media and human rights organizations there. On the
other, encouraging and enabling for Kashmir a freedom struggle to de-escalate,
and its transit to a political process for the realization of the legitimate
aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Mr. President,
9. The Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, and, indeed, all UN Member
States, have an obligation flowing from Article 25 of the UN Charter, to secure
the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions relating to Kashmir,
adopted from 1949 to 1998. All the modalities outlined in Article 33 of the
Charter can be mobilized for this purpose.
10. Pakistan trusts that, at this decisive hour, the Security Council will live
up to its Charter responsibilities.
I thank you, Mr. President.
New York
31 May, 2002