THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
STATEMENT BY:
H.E. MR. ABDURRAHMAN M. SHALGHEM
Secretary of the General People's Committee for
Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation
before
The Millennium Summit of the
General Assembly
New York, New York
8 September 2000
Mr. President,
As we meet in this historical forum in a human attempt to formulate a proper vision for the future of humanity in the
next millennium, we express the hope that the last century with all its scientific achievements and progress in all
fields, as well as the negative impact it has had upon people and environment, will provide the guidelines for us to
shape our aspirations and our dreams in a world that is free from oppression, exploitation, the destruction of earth and
nature, the marginalization of millions, and ignoring their rights.
We feel that the fundamental pillar upon which we should found the world of the next millennium must be the achievement
of equality for all human beings, the prevention of all forms of discrimination, and the consideration of man as the
most valuable and most appreciated "unit" on earth. On the basis of this concept, children must be given greater care
and attention in learning, health, and education. A child must, therefore, be provided with circumstances that allow
him/her to grow up to be a healthy, free, creative, and strong human being who is reared by a harmonious family. This
desirable state of affairs requires making laws that safeguard the rights of mothers and children, the right of every
human being to have his/her own house, to be a partner in his/her own production, the prevention of commercialization of
man's basic needs such as food and medicines, and the non-allowance of human rights to be exploited as a source of
living. Furthermore, to prevent the return of colonialism, the colonial states should compensate the peoples that they
colonized for the persecution inflicted upon them, the destruction caused to their environment, and for their resources
and cultural properties that have been plundered.
The objective behind the establishment of the International Criminal Court is the punishment of the perpetrators of the
most serious crimes against international security, but the Rome Statute is designed to try only the weak. Such a
statute cannot be accepted, neither can it be signed or ratified unless it is modified in a manner that guarantees the
trial of all perpetrators of acts of aggression, drug smugglers and their trade-partners, and those responsible for
group massacres of innocent people, as well as those who commit aggression against international forces.
The Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines deals only with simple weapons of limited effect. We, as one of the Third
World peoples who are incapable of defending our borders and our lands against the powerful who possess aircraft
carriers and aircraft that refuel during flight, feel that humanity should be preoccupied with the destruction of
nuclear, chemical, and germ weapons, as well as ballistic weapons, rather than being concerned with mines, which are a
simple form of weaponry.
Terrorism has assumed many forms: sanctions, resort to brutal force, the threat to use such force, nuclear weapons, and
arms of mass destruction, all constitute forms of terrorism, and so do the conditions imposed by the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization. Therefore, in order for the international community to
combat terrorism, we should, first and foremost, define terrorism and the causes which lie behind it, as well as all
acts of violence. In this respect, it is imperative that the following principles be upheld:
First: Making a distinction between the various forms of terrorism, and
the people's struggle for their freedom, as well as the struggle engaged in by the persecuted groups against their
persecutors,
which is seen by some as terrorism.
Second: An undertaking by all states to accept the repatriation of all persons
living in exile and refugees, to guarantee their safety, and to assist
them in resettling.
Third: Compensation for peoples, families, and individuals who fall
victim to terrorism and violence.
Fourth: Release of abducted persons and detainees, and the surrender of all
those being sought by the International Police.
Unless all such matters have been agreed upon, it is most certain that the signing or ratification of any international
convention or agreement on international terrorism will be to no avail.
The creation of a world in which prosperity prevails requires commitment to the implementation of international
agreements relating to the mother and child care and their protection; and the realization of a world free from motives
of aggression requires prohibition of all manifestations of violence. Furthermore, in order to achieve a world liberated
from epidemics and diseases, a vigorous fight must be put against dangerous diseases such as cancer, Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), poliomyelitis, and malaria. Efforts must also be joined to combat the use of "white poisons"
and the treatment of their addicts. Moreover, in order to protect our planet from the dangers that threaten it, we
should work to stop desertification, and to eradicate pests that attack crops. We should also strive to establish
low-cost water desalination systems, and an international irrigation system which prevents the flow of waters of rivers,
rain, and snow to seas and oceans, allows for their distribution over land, and guarantees the greatest possible amount
of food production.
In order to implement all these proposals, we would like to propose the establishment on an international fund
answerable to the United Nations to which all states would contribute in accordance with their capacities, in addition
to the appropriate multilateral financial institutions.
Fulfillment of the special needs of Africa necessitates abstention from exploiting its resources, the plundering of its
riches, and the squandering of its wealth. It also requires non-interference in its internal affairs, and refraining
from the imposition on the African Continent of alien and strange concepts to its culture. Furthermore, states which
colonized Africa and enslaved its peoples must apologize to the Continent and pay full compensation for the damages
inflicted by colonialism.
We feel that the United Nations cannot play an effective role in facing the challenges posed by the various
international problems unless it undergoes a radical reform compatible with its Charter. For this reason, resolutions
made by the General Assembly must be binding. The General Assembly must also enjoy the authority of control over all
other United Nations organs, which must also be held accountable to it, including the Security Council. This Council
should act as an executive tool for the implementation of the General Assembly resolutions. Furthermore, the General
Assembly should approve the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. The veto right should also be subject to review
in a manner that leads either to its abolishment or generalization.
In order to enable the organization to follow up the plans and programmes that it establishes, we propose the
establishment of an international committee answerable to the United Nations with sub-committees that cover most parts
of the world, empowered with the necessary authorities and resources, to undertake the tasks of inspection and
implementation of United Nations programmes.
Such is our vision for how the world should look like in the Third Millennium. We are fully convinced that the
principles and values we have put forward, coupled with the implementation of the proposals we made, will definitely
lead to the creation of a world in which peace and security are realized, stability and prosperity are enhanced,
diseases, ignorance, and poverty are eradicated, and before and above all, the will of all peoples is respected.
Peace be upon all of you.