FOR THE RECORD: President Leonid Kuchma's address to the General Assembly (09/17/00)

FOR THE RECORD

President Leonid Kuchma's address to the General Assembly

Following is the text of the address by Leonid Kuchma, president of Ukraine, at the United Nations Millennium Summit.

Honorable Co-Chairpersons, Honorable Secretary-General, Honorable Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Speaking from this high rostrum, I probably feel the same as everybody present here - responsibility, solidarity and inspiration.

Our participation in the summit reaffirms our commitment to and support for the foundations of the world order based on the underlying principles of the Charter of the United Nations. These principles should continue to serve as the basis for the system of international relations in the next millennium.

In historic terms, the United Nations was brought into existence not so long ago. Even less time has elapsed since the creation of the newly independent states, including Ukraine, but even within this short period of time we have learned a lot. We know what the peoples of our countries want. We know what we should do, and what we should not, in order to avoid new tragedies and upheavals.

The desires and aspirations of the people of Ukraine are simple and clear. Like every people on Earth my compatriots strive for happiness, peace and well-being. They want to live in a democratic country, without fear for their future and the life and destiny of coming generations.

It is from this angle that we perceive the role and place of the United Nations in the 21st century.

Disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons remain one of the essential tasks to be addressed by the United Nations and the world community.

Not so long ago Ukraine took the unprecedented step of renouncing the world's third largest nuclear arsenal. That gesture of goodwill, dictated by the responsibility for strengthening peace and for the future of mankind, grants us the right to call upon other states to follow suit.

I am convinced that nuclear weapons are useless and unpromising as an instrument of state policy. It is necessary to do everything possible to make sure that in the new millennium humankind once and for all gets rid, of the fear of devastating nuclear disaster.

In this respect, we support the idea of convening a worldwide international conference to work out the ways and means of eliminating such a threat.

The United Nations should continue to play a key role in maintaining international peace and security. In this regard, it is very difficult to overestimate the role of the Security Council. We need to reform it, we need to strengthen its authority and legitimacy if we want this body to live up to our expectations.

It is quite obvious that such hazardous diseases as conflicts should be treated long before their eruption.

I believe that today, as never before, there is an acute need to develop a comprehensive strategy of the United Nations for conflict-prevention that should be based on a large-scale use of preventive diplomacy and peace-building. It is upon this premise that a peace-keeping philosophy of the United Nations and its member-states in the next millennium should be built.

A more secure and equitable world would be difficult to achieve without the resolute and uncompromising response of the entire world community to new challenges related to the process of globalization. It seems that the possible catastrophic consequences of some of them have not yet been fully realized. Completely sharing the views expressed by the previous speakers regarding the threat of international terrorism, I would like to draw particular attention to one of its specific manifestations: international computer terrorism.

Unfortunately, criminals and malefactors have increasingly profited from the advantages of the information revolution.

Such a masterpiece of human creation as the computer is taking on the role of a weapon capable of striking mercilessly at the security and well-being of nations and countries. I would like to invite all to consider the appropriateness of working out an international instrument to combat computer terrorism.

The best and the most reliable weapon of peace is a steady economic development.

For developing countries and countries with economies in transition the main factors of success in economic reforms and poverty-eradication programs consist of obtaining free access to world markets, in liberalizing trade and resolving external debt problems. It is in this domain that both the United Nations and international financial institutions can launch their initiatives.

The prospects for a safe future of humankind depends on our readiness and ability to make long-term investments in the development of democracy and protection of human rights.

Ensuring proper living conditions for future generations from the environmental standpoint is another urgent task that requires our joint and concerted efforts.

In Ukraine there is a clear understanding of the danger caused by careless exploitation of natural resources and the use of new technologies. Our people have been suffering the consequences of the largest technological cataclysm of the 20th century and - Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident.

We made a decision to shut down this nuclear power plant by December 15, 2000. This decision gives us an opportunity to work out a mechanism for consolidating efforts at all levels - national, regional and international - to resolve social, economic and environmental problems that affect the peace and security of individual countries and all humankind.

Ladies and Gentlemen, time requires from all of us that we act in unity and with resolve to assume the responsibility for the future of the United Nations. In the 21st century, the organization should be provided with such capabilities, financial resources and structures that will allow it to serve effectively those on behalf of whom and for whom it was established.

I am convinced that by strengthening the United Nations the world community would significantly enhance its capacity to withstand dangers and threats, to respond to the challenges of the time, and to ensure the stability, justice and predictability of international relations.

Thank you for your attention.

... and to the Security Council of the United Nations

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