A/70/PV.32 General Assembly

Members will recall that the Secretary-General presented his annual report, contained in document A/70/1, to the General Assembly at its 13th plenary meeting, on 28 September. I would like to make a few preliminary remarks in order to introduce the report. The Secretary-General presented his report prior to the start of the general debate, which we all attended some weeks ago. In his introduction to the report, the Secretary-General highlighted many of the overarching challenges and concerns that confront the United Nations in its seventieth year. The report speaks to many of the points that Member States subsequently raised during the general debate. It is clear that its themes resonate with Member States and will continue to dominate our work during the seventieth session. The report covers the eight priority areas agreed on by the Committee for Programme and Coordination, and I would like to briefly highlight the key themes in each area. In the area of sustainable development, the report includes a reminder of the gaps in and lessons of the *1531290* 15-31290 (E) Millennium Development Goals as we embark on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), and a clear call for a meaningful, universal climate agreement. The report presents a sobering picture where peace and security are concerned, noting that we face increasingly complex and interconnected threats. The narrative on Africa is positive, noting the significant strides that the continent has made in development during the past year. In the area of human rights, the report flags the exposure of millions of innocent people to gross risks and violations, including the worst displacement of persons — we are talking about 51 million people — seen since the Second World War, and reminds us of the priority the Secretary-General gives to the Human Rights Up Front initiative. With regard to humanitarian assistance, the report laments that this year we hit several deplorable humanitarian benchmarks, including the figure of more than 76 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and calls on us not just to meet humanitarian needs but to reduce them. The report reminds us of the importance of the rule of law at the national and international levels. As for disarmament, the report shows a mixed picture, with multilateral disarmament forums struggling to deliver results. In that regard, we all remember this year’s Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. However, we also witnessed a welcome agreement on Iran’s nuclear capacity and the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty. The report acknowledges the spread of international terrorism and the related problems of drug trafficking and organized crime, owing to a continuing failure to resolve the underlying conflicts and conditions that give rise to violent extremism, as well as to the limits of conventional approaches to such problems. Finally, the report includes an update on steps being taken to strengthen the Organization in order to adapt it to new needs and realities, including the implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards and Umoja, as well as a decision to further consider internally how best to achieve the objectives for which partnerships are proposed. The report concludes that on the occasion of its seventieth anniversary, the United Nations is needed more than ever before, and that will require an unprecedented spirit of cooperation among Member States. The Secretary-General stands ready to do his part and looks forward to hearing the views of Member States during our debate.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 10 States members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and my own country, Malaysia. At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary- General for his annual report on the work of the Organization, contained in document A/70/1. It provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of the activities of the Organization, its achievements and challenges, across a wide spectrum of issues relating to the common interests and concerns of all humankind. The ASEAN Charter has a provision expressing the Association’s commitment to upholding the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Therefore ASEAN attaches great importance to the work of the United Nations and greatly values its cooperation with the Organization. The Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations, adopted in 2011, is a clear reflection of our commitment to strengthening our cooperation. In that context, we welcome the success of the annual meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the General Assembly, on 29 September on the sidelines of the general debate. ASEAN looks forward to welcoming the Secretary- General at the upcoming seventh ASEAN-United Nations Summit, to be held on 22 November in Kuala Lumpur, with the goal of further strengthening relations between the organizations and exploring other areas of cooperation. We view the Summit as an effective policy tool and another opportunity to give policy guidance for strengthening our partnership. In his report, the Secretary-General highlights the substantial progress that has been made overall on the Millennium Development Goals, while stressing the importance of moving forward with the universal implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), as well as the urgent need for taking timely action on climate change. The start of the seventieth session of the General Assembly is the precursor to a more challenging process. ASEAN is encouraged that the aforementioned ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting recognized the importance of the implementation of the ASEAN community’s post-2015 vision alongside that of the 2030 Agenda. We share the view that the two agendas will complement each other, particularly in the areas of reducing poverty and hunger, tackling inequalities and promoting women’s empowerment, fostering sustainable economic growth and equitable social development, protecting the environment, ensuring access to clean water and air, minimizing the adverse effects of climate change and building effective institutions aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive development, as well as in enhancing the collaboration between the United Nations and its specialized agencies with ASEAN’s various mechanisms and institutions. There is no doubt that climate change, as the Secretary-General points out, is one of the greatest threats we have to a sustainable future. ASEAN is also working hard to address that challenge, including by strengthening its community’s resilience through effective implementation of its Climate Change Initiative and Action Plan on a Joint Response to Climate Change. We hope that the upcoming Climate Change Conference, to be held in Paris between 30 November and 11 December, will produce a comprehensive and universal agreement on climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the area of human rights, ASEAN has made rapid progress with its institutional development since its Charter entered into force. Highlights include the 2012 adoption of ASEAN’s milestone Human Rights Declaration and its 2013 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children, following the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. The AICHR conducts various programmes and activities in consultation and cooperation with ASEAN sectoral bodies, together with the relevant institutions and external partners concerned. The AICHR has launched various initiatives to promote awareness of human rights in 2015. Among them are the AICHR Training of the Trainers for Journalists in ASEAN Member States, held in Thailand; the AICHR Youth Debates on Human Rights, held in Singapore; the Regional Workshop on the Role of Youth in Promoting Human Rights in ASEAN, to be held in Malaysia; the AICHR Workshop on the Implementation of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Environment and Climate Change, held in Myanmar; and the AICHR Workshop on the Development of ASEAN Legal Instruments on Human Rights, held in the Philippines. Concerning peace and stability, ASEAN also strives to maintain and promote the Association as a flag- bearer for regional norms of good conduct, particularly through the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. The Treaty is regarded as the key code of conduct governing inter-State relations in South-East Asia, and it provides the foundations for the maintenance of regional peace and stability. We welcome the growing interest of some non-ASEAN States in acceding to the Treaty. Furthermore, ASEAN attaches great importance to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime in order to maintain peace, security and prosperity in the region. We are committed to preserving South-East Asia as a nuclear- weapon-free zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction, as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. In that regard, ASEAN is committed to working closely with the nuclear-weapon States on their early signing and ratification of the Protocol to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, without reservations. To that end, ASEAN encourages the full support of United Nations Member States, particularly the nuclear-weapon States, for the ASEAN-sponsored biennial resolutions on the Treaty during the seventieth session of the General Assembly. On counter-terrorism, ASEAN shares the deep concerns over the rising violence and brutality committed by terrorist and extremist organizations and radical groups in Yemen, Iraq and Syria. ASEAN denounces all acts of destruction, violence and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Along those lines, ASEAN adopted the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates at the twenty- sixth ASEAN Summit, held in April, which outlines measures to promote moderation and curb extremism throughout the region. This year, under Malaysia’s chairmanship and the theme “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision”, we are striving to make ASEAN people-centred. That means good governance, higher standards of living, sustainable development, the empowerment of women and greater opportunity for all people, in the spirit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We believe that the collective efforts of ASEAN at the regional level will contribute to the work of the United Nations in promoting peace, security and stability as well as to inclusive and sustainable growth for all. I wish to conclude by reiterating ASEAN’s resolve to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations in the areas of mutual interest.

The Chinese delegation welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/70/1). This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Over the past 70 years, the United Nations has borne witness to the endeavours of Member States to explore and put into practice various ways of maintaining peace, promoting development and seeking cooperation. Reviewing the journey the United Nations has taken, we are extremely proud of its achievements. Looking forward, we are fully confident of the ability of the Organization to launch a new era of cooperation. Over the past year, the United Nations has proactively advanced multilateral cooperation and formulated the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) with a view to promoting economic growth and sustainable development. It has worked to find solutions so as to reach hotspot issues through diplomatic negotiations and made efforts in both peacekeeping and peacebuilding. It has actively coordinated humanitarian assistance and appropriately addressed the Ebola outbreak. It advanced the cause of disarmament in a comprehensive manner and facilitated the development of synergy in the international fight against terrorism. China wishes to thank Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon and the Secretariat as a whole for all their efforts. The world we currently live in is far from tranquil, with ongoing regional conflicts, local wars and numerous difficulties on the path towards global development. The international community continues to face daunting traditional and non-traditional challenges. In this especially significant year, we need to reflect on how to better address the major issues of peace and development in the twenty-first century, including how to promote the economic and social development of peoples throughout the world and advance our common values of peace, development, equity and justice. During his attendance at various summits in the context of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, gave an in-depth account of China’s policy view on the international order and issues concerning the future and destiny of humankind, as well as a comprehensive elaboration on the idea for a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at its centre. He proposed the establishment of a partnership in which countries treat each other as equals; engage in mutual consultations; demonstrate mutual understanding; create a security architecture that stresses fairness, justice, joint contributions and shared benefits; seek inclusive and mutually beneficial development characterized by openness and innovation; carry out intercivilizational exchanges to promote harmony, inclusiveness and respect for differences; and construct ecological systems that respect nature and favour green development. Based on these points, we can draw up a blueprint and road map for building a community for the common destiny of humankind. Those ideas preserve and further develop the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and provide new thinking and a new vision for the future work of the Organization. In the political and security sphere, China believes that all countries should have a role in determining the future of the world, and that the principle of sovereignty should be respected and implemented. Disputes should be settled through dialogue and differences bridged through consultations. We must adhere to multilateralism and approach the idea of win-win cooperation and winning for all. China has also proposed an important initiative for strengthening the United Nations peacekeeping operations and offered China’s programmes as contributions to the United Nations work in the area of peace and security. In the area of development, China advocates a development concept of equity, openness, comprehensiveness and innovation at its core. We have put forward four policy proposals for building countries’ development capacities, improving the international development environment, optimizing development partnerships and boosting development coordination mechanisms, which also represent China’s philosophy for its own development and reform. We have expressed our views on the direction of climate change negotiations and introduced our specific measures to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That will facilitate the integration of China’s development with that of the world, thereby providing new thinking and injecting new vitality into the efforts of the United Nations to promote global development. With regard to women’s empowerment, China has put forward four ideas to promote gender equality and women’s all-around development: advancing women’s development in parallel with economic and social development, actively safeguarding women’s rights and interests, working to foster a harmonious and socially inclusive culture, and creating an international environment favourable to women’s development. At the joint initiative of the United Nations and China, those commitments were made for the first time at the level of State leaders, which is of historic significance. China has announced a series of major initiatives to support the work of the United Nations and advance the cause of global peace and development. China will join the new United Nations peacekeeping standby mechanism and has established standing formed police units and an 8,000-strong standby peacekeeping contingent. China will set up a South-South cooperation assistance fund with an initial funding level of $2 billion to support developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China will donate $10 million to UN-Women to implement 100 mother- and-child health projects in developing countries over the next five years. China has also decided to establish a 10-year, $1 billion China-United Nations development fund. All these initiatives demonstrate China’s sense of responsibility for multilateral cooperation. The outcomes of the United Nations summits have set out the direction for our efforts to build a better tomorrow and for the future of the world and the United Nations. China is ready to work with all Member States to turn the outcomes of the summits into concrete action and to jointly strive for a bright future in which all people will be free from want and enjoy development and dignity. China believes that in the area of peace and security, the United Nations should, during the Assembly’s seventieth session, resolutely uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, respect the choices made by countries themselves concerning their development path and social system, persist in seeking the settlement of inter-State disputes by peaceful means through dialogue and consultations, and strive for progress in addressing regional hotspot issues, such as the Middle East. In the area of development, the United Nations should seize this historic opportunity to advance global development. It should focus on the follow-up to the 2030 Agenda, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and push for coordinated development in the economic, social and environmental spheres in an effort to narrow the gap between North and South so that all countries can embark on the path towards equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. As a permanent member of the Security Council and the world’s largest developing country, China has always considered the maintenance of world peace, the promotion of global development and the safeguarding of the world order to be its duties. For years, China has actively contributed Chinese wisdom, Chinese ideas and Chinese proposals to the international community, thereby contributing to the work of the United Nations. We are willing to work with other Member States to uphold and develop the purposes and principles of the Charter, build a new type of international relationship with win-win cooperation at its centre, and create a community of the common destiny of humankind, thereby making further and greater contributions to the continuing advance of the cause of peace, development and progress.

We appreciate the Secretary- General’s report on the work of the Organization (A/70/1), which presents a substantive assessment of the activities of the United Nations over the past year and contains many reflections that we need to heed. The world has been transformed fundamentally since the United Nations was created 70 years ago. Geopolitics has changed; the nature of conflict has changed; and so have the demands of peacekeeping. The development challenges of our time are qualitatively different, while environmental threats have escalated to an unprecedented level. A review of the Organization, both in the way it is structured and in the way it operates, was therefore much needed. On development, Member States have, over the past few years, jointly reviewed the achievements and failures of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Lessons learned have informed the paradigm shift represented by the post-2015 development Agenda. In his report, the Secretary-General has acknowledged progress on the MDGs, while identifying the significant gaps that have remained. Advances in many areas have bypassed the poor; sometimes they have even exacerbated inequities. Having collectively committed ourselves at last month’s historic summit to achieving a series of specific goals to promote equitable and inclusive development, focused action is now needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The challenge ahead is to summon and mobilize the collective political will and resources to ensure the comprehensive implementation of those Goals. In the realm of peace and security, reviews of peacekeeping and peacebuilding are being undertaken in the same spirit of introspection. That is necessary in a world that is in increasing turmoil. Peacekeeping has to respond to that and also adapt to the changing nature of conflict. Pakistan believes that reform of the Organization is necessary to reflect the dynamics and demands of the twenty-first century and to respond effectively to the current and emerging challenges that confront us all. Pakistan supports comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including of the Security Council, but such reform must make the Security Council more democratic, representative, accountable and transparent. As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said during the general debate: “We need a Security Council that ... reflects the interests of all Member States ... not an expanded club of the powerful and the privileged.” (A/70/PV.19, p. 40) The primary purpose for the creation of the United Nations was to save future generations from the scourge of war. Yet today we find a world under strain, with peace elusive in many regions and security threats magnifying or escalating in other parts. Confrontation has returned between major Powers in Europe and threatens to engulf Asia. Large parts of the Middle East are in flames. Terrorism is spreading. Violent extremism is on the rise. Indeed, the Middle East is confronted with unprecedented security challenges as an increasing number of countries are being sucked into the vortex of conflict and instability. Massive human dislocation and a growing refugee crisis threaten the stability of many parts of the world. Dealing with all those threats and challenges requires new and collective thinking, as well as collaborative action at the regional and global levels. Meanwhile, the long-standing tragedy of Palestine has intensified. The intransigent stance of the occupying Power has dimmed any chances of progress towards the widely accepted avenue for peace between Palestine and Israel, namely, a two-State solution. In our ongoing battle against terrorism, Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating that scourge is unwavering. We have lost tens of thousands of lives to terrorism, but the blood that has been shed, including that of our innocent children, has only reinforced our resolve and our commitment to continuing the fight until the last terrorist is eliminated from our country. Pakistan has adopted a multi-pronged strategy that envisages a comprehensive national action plan and a military- led law enforcement operation called Zarb-e-Azb to fight against terrorists. Zarb-e-Azb is the largest anti-terrorism campaign against terrorists anywhere in the world and has already made substantial progress in cleansing my country of terrorism. In our neighbourhood, we seek constructive diplomatic engagement to resolve differences, promote stability and foster economic cooperation and connectivity. Pakistan remains committed to promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan. We believe that a peace process aimed at intra-Afghan reconciliation is the only viable way to bring a political end to the long-running conflict there. A promising start was made in initiating such a process two months ago, but that effort has since stalled. We stand ready to help revive that process when requested to do so, and are encouraged that the international community wants to see a resumption of the peace process in Afghanistan. In South Asia, long-standing disputes have to be addressed boldly and decisively if enduring peace and stability are to be established. The unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the root cause of tensions and instability in our region. For over half a century, that dispute has remained unresolved. United Nations resolutions pledging a plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination have not been implemented. Instead, the people of Kashmir have suffered brutal oppression. The urgency of peacefully settling the dispute is even more compelling today. Consultations with Kashmiris, who are an integral part of the dispute, are essential to evolving such a peaceful solution. Calling for the termination of those consultations as a precondition for dialogue is unacceptable as well as counterproductive. Escalating tensions on the Line of Control in Kashmir and the working boundary also require Pakistan and India to take all possible measures to avert further escalation. It was against that backdrop that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced a four-point peace initiative in the General Assembly on 30 September. That should have evoked a positive response from India, but so far that has not been forthcoming. Nevertheless, my country stands ready to engage in a dialogue on all outstanding issues. The world certainly faces many complex and daunting challenges, but today an interdependent and interconnected world also possesses the capabilities and means to meet those challenges. We are confident that through cooperative endeavours we can turn our shared aspirations for peace and progress for all our peoples into concrete actions and into reality.

I would like at the outset to offer the congratulations of the Kingdom of Morocco to Mr. Mogens Lykketoft on his accession to the presidency of the General Assembly and to assure him of our full support as he conducts our work in the year ahead. My delegation takes this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the Organization (A/70/1), which outlines the very important and rapid changes that have occurred, from rising inequalities among peoples and violence against women and girls to the adverse effects of climate change, armed conflicts and terrorism. As we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, my delegation welcomes the fact that the eradication of poverty has been identified as the main objective of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) and that the three dimensions of sustainable development are reflected in a balanced way. My delegation also welcomes the inclusion of economic objectives with respect to achieving sustainable and shared growth and the promotion of infrastructure and industrialization, which represent a significant step forward with respect to the Millennium Development Goals. Since we are living in a globalized world where actors are increasingly interdependent, global partnership for development and the means to attain the Sustainable Development Goals are critical to ensuring economic, social and political stability throughout the world. It would also be wise for that global partnership to give greater consideration to Africa, which should remain the centre of concern. Our continent, which has indeed made remarkable progress towards stabilization, still faces a combination of growing security threats. Peace and development there continue to face many problems and challenges that urgently require a collective national, regional and international response. Transnational organized crime, food insecurity, the radicalization of young people, the outbreak of pandemics and the exacerbation of terrorism and violent extremism are mutually reinforcing scourges in a context of fragile State institutions and unstructured societies. As stressed in the message that His Majesty the King sent to the current session of the General Assembly, “Africa must be at the heart of international development cooperation in order to help the continent free itself from its colonial past and unlock its potential. Morocco therefore calls on the United Nations and regional and international financial institutions to draft an action plan for the economic transformation of Africa and the provision of steady resources for its financing ... We call for peace and stability to be made top priorities in order to prevent conflicts, tackle extremism and terrorism, and resolve the migration problem through an approach that takes into account the dignity of migrants, preserves their basic rights, and addresses the root causes of this phenomenon.” (A/70/PV.21, p. 11) Recognizing that no State alone can successfully combat the threats to stability in Africa, the Kingdom of Morocco has consistently proclaimed loudly and clearly that no one can defeat such threats without expanded regional cooperation and coordination, political will and more effective, concrete and active solidarity. . The United Nations system will always find in the Kingdom of Morocco a committed and tirelessly determined partner in supporting all constructive initiatives or actions on behalf of Africa. With regard to question of peace and security, my delegation fully shares the sincere concerns expressed by the Secretary-General in his report with regard to the threats that continue to weigh on those matters due to the new conflicts emerging every day and the new forms of violence afflicting several countries, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. My delegation calls on the international community to invest more in efforts aimed at resolving disputes that poison the relations among neighbouring States and undermine their economic integration, in particular on the African continent. Similarly, the proliferation of terrorism is a great source of concern for the international community and requires shared efforts to thwart it. Thus, in the context of its ongoing commitment to strengthening global action to fight terrorism, in particular violent extremism, the Kingdom of Morocco has consistently shared its know-how and experience acquired in that area by actively contributing to strengthening bilateral, regional and international cooperation. At the meeting convened by the Counter-Terrorism Committee on 30 September 2014, Morocco’s experience in combating radicalism and violent extremism was shared by high-level Moroccan officials and friendly countries that had benefitted from Moroccan cooperation in that area. That meeting enabled us to highlight His Majesty the King’s decision to train imams and preachers from a number of African countries in the Muslim religion’s precepts of tolerance, moderation and respect for others. Regarding the fight against climate change, the Kingdom of Morocco has been working to develop a national policy on environmental issues. That has resulted in our adoption of a national environmental charter, the launch of a green plan for Morocco and the start of construction on an ambitious solar and wind- turbine renewable energy programme designed to meet 42 per cent of the country’s energy needs by 2020. I should note here that in Marrakesh in 2016, Morocco will host the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Kingdom of Morocco, which has always subscribed to efforts based on dialogue and consultation, is making a substantial contribution to initiatives aimed at the peaceful settlement of conflicts. My delegation calls for an end to the violence in Syria and Libya and hopes that a political transition in line with their peoples’ aspirations can ensure territorial integrity, national unity and stability throughout the region. Morocco also calls for the mobilization of international support for a solution to the Palestinian question and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Morocco remains committed and ready to work with all Member States in order to build a strong United Nations, capable of executing the difficult tasks it is burdened with and the multiple challenges it has to face. We must all work tirelessly, collectively and in a coordinated fashion in order to make it an effective instrument for achieving peace and security and spreading the values of tolerance and coexistence in the service of all humankind.

We thank the Secretary- General for his annual report on the work of the Organization (A/70/1). We are fortunate that today’s meeting is taking place shortly after the high-level general debate, during which our leaders addressed the General Assembly. We therefore have not only the report’s perspective but also our leaders’ views to guide us in our meeting today. Before going into some aspects of the Secretary- General’s report, it is worth noting that in paragraph 4 it itemizes as many as 13 specific areas of conflict or crisis that currently scar the international landscape, along with emerging new threats that terrorist groups pose to international peace and security. The cumulative impact of those conflicts and crises is being felt by almost 60 million people — innocent men, women and children. Yet section B of chapter II of the report is strangely silent on why the Security Council, which is serviced by the Secretariat and has primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, has allowed so many crises to mushroom. My delegation has repeatedly stated at the highest level that the Security Council’s ineffectiveness is due to its unrepresentative composition, particularly its permanent membership. We were all party to our leaders’ unanimous decision at the 2005 World Summit to work for speedy reform of the Council to make it fit for purpose. Paragraph 102 of the report tries to reflect the significant progress we made in the Assembly on 14 September (see A/69/PV.104) but buries this in business-as-usual statistics. The context for our deep concern about the steady erosion of international peace and security is our leaders’ recent adoption of the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). The report gives many details about the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and their integration into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. We have expressed our support for the Secretary-General’s vision in those parts of the report, including in the area of climate change. For many of the SDGs we have just adopted, India has announced national development initiatives with specific time frames for implementation. We would like our national effort, involving almost one sixth of humankind, to help to accelerate and lead the way to achievement of the 2030 Agenda in a substantive manner. However, we are also cognizant of the importance of the ways in which a supportive and stable political environment is linked to and impacts successful implementation of the Agenda. It is self evident that political instability is an obstacle to the flow of investments, technology and trade, and consequently it severely restricts prospects for sustained socioeconomic growth. In a globalized world, our overarching objective of eradicating poverty by 2030 will be jeopardized unless we adopt a holistic approach. We would like to touch on three issues covered in the report. The first is United Nations peace operations. The report provides a detailed account of the Security Council’s efforts to draw up mandates for both peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations. The two have been synergized in the public mind through the Secretary-General’s appointment of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. We endorsed the Panel’s recommendations (see A/70/95) in the General Assembly and look forward to contributing to their implementation during this session, especially in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. In order to implement the Panel’s recommendations, India has committed significant additional resources, including an increase of 10 per cent to our existing contribution of almost 8,000 troops and the provision of additional female peacekeepers, highly skilled enablers and facilities for training peacekeepers from other Member States. The second issue is terrorism, and it is one on which the United Nations has appeared ineffective, although both the Security Council and the General Assembly have adopted resolutions, sanctions regimes and strategies to counter terrorism over the past 15 years. As far as the Organization itself is concerned, we note that as many as 31 entities within the United Nations deal with some aspect of countering terrorism. Agreement on a coordinator for these entities’ work is a priority that we cannot postpone. Our public consciousness is being ravaged daily by incessant acts of terrorism targeting innocent people, our civilizations’ heritage and, increasingly, our societies’ socioeconomic infrastructure, especially in vulnerable developing countries. We look forward to the launch of the Secretary-General’s initiative on countering terrorism, mentioned in paragraph 96 of the report, during this session of the Assembly. We hope it will include a road map to help us to adopt the long-pending comprehensive convention on international terrorism, at the heart of which is the legal principle of “prosecute or extradite”. The third issue that we would like to comment on is reflected in section C of the report, on Africa. India is organizing the third India-Africa Forum Summit, starting on 26 October, with plans for all 54 African countries to participate. It will be the single biggest diplomatic event held in India since 1983. We aim to build on the bonds of our traditional political and socioeconomic relations with Africa and take advantage of new technologies that can enable us to accelerate our efforts to achieve our shared development aspirations. The success of the Pan-African E-network project, with a focus on telemedicine and tele-education, is a good example of how we can contribute, as a responsible Member State, to our Organization’s commitment to Africa’s rapid development. India has steadily increased its active participation in issues on the Organization’s humanitarian agenda in order to become a reliable early responder to humanitarian crises. During the past year, in response to the Secretary-General’s appeal, we were the biggest financial contributor among developing countries to the Ebola trust fund. Similarly, at the international donor conference in Kathmandu, we made significant contributions to the early relief and rehabilitation of the thousands of victims of the devastating earthquake in Nepal. We have contributed quickly to relief for devastation caused by cyclones and storms in both the Pacific and the Caribbean. Through our participation in South-South cooperation structures such as the India Brazil South Africa Fund, we have shared our development experience with our partners in the developing world, without making the partnership conditional or prescriptive. In conclusion, I find it most unfortunate that my colleague from Pakistan has chosen to refer to issues that are extraneous to the debate we are having here today. We have diplomatic relations with Pakistan, and such issues should be addressed within the framework of those relations, rather than being aired elsewhere.

At the outset, I would like to convey to the Secretary-General Japan’s deep appreciation for his efforts in guiding the activities of United Nations and for his latest report on the work of the Organization (A/70/1). During the week of high-level debate, we celebrated the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) as a historic document. This year will also mark the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, and we look forward to the related event on 23 October. However, we face huge challenges, such as climate change, the refugee and migration crisis, terrorism and protracted conflict situations throughout the world. How to address those challenges in a collective manner is the fundamental question for multilateralism. As we all know, the United Nations has three pillars: peace and security, development and human rights. But we believe that peace and security have the most significant importance in the light of many crises in the world. United Nations peacekeeping operations are the most important tool that the United Nations has for the maintenance of international peace and security. We should also recognize the challenge in front of us, which is how to make United Nations peacekeeping operations more sustainable in both financial and human resources aspects. That requires us to take concrete and holistic actions in order to improve that tool. In that regard, Japan will contribute further to peacekeeping operations by broadening its involvement based on a proactive contribution to peace, through the commitments announced by Prime Minister Abe at the second leaders summit on peacekeeping, held in September. Japan also continues to support the strategic review process outlined in both the report of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peacekeeping Operations (see A/70/95) and the Secretary-General’s report (A/70/357). Japan will proactively contribute to peacekeeping-related issues during this session through active participation in the upcoming discussion in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and in the Fifth Committee. With respect to the Peacebuilding Commission, Japan has been active in it since its establishment, in 2005. This year, the Working Group on Lessons Learned held a series of meetings on the challenges associated with institution-building in post-conflict situations. We will conclude that exercise with a report by the Chair, to be issued by the end of the year. We hope that that report will benefit the intergovernmental negotiations on the 2015 review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture, scheduled to commence this fall following the issuance of the report of the Advisory Group of Experts (see A/69/968), by offering a useful perspective on the role to be played by the PBC in the context of institution-building. Among the organs of the United Nations, the Security Council should undoubtedly have the primary responsibility for peace and security. The Council should reflect the realities of the international community of the twenty-first century in order to more effectively and promptly address ever-growing conflicts and crises. Allow me to draw the Assembly’s attention to the meeting on Security Council reform of the leaders of the group of four countries made up of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan that was held in New York on 26 September. The group is determined to redouble its efforts towards securing concrete outcomes during this session of the General Assembly. Our leaders have adopted the 2030 Agenda, and now Member States need to start the implementation of that holistic and ambitious Agenda, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Japan is fully committed to the implementation of the Agenda, both at home and abroad, in order to ensure that no one is left behind. All United Nations States Members have a responsibility to ensure that the United Nations is fully equipped to succeed in achieving that ambitious Agenda. However, I must say that the process of its implementation will be a long and tough one. The positive momentum created by the successful agreements this year — namely, in Sendai, Addis Ababa and at the recent summit here in New York — impels us to succeed at the twenty-first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Paris. We should not miss that opportunity to establish a fair and effective international framework applicable to all parties. When we talk about the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the light of “no one left behind”, we must not forget the development challenges faced by African countries. The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process has been up and running since 1993, in close cooperation among Japan, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. For over 20 years, Africa and Japan have shared both the concept and practice of development rooted in the idea of ownership and partnership. To continue building on that foundation, Japan will mobilize up to $32 billion between 2013 and 2017, in both the public and private sectors. Japan is determined to further enhance our efforts through the TICAD process to promote transformative, resilient and inclusive growth across Africa. We look forward to the forthcoming sixth TICAD Summit, to be held in Nairobi in 2016, which will be the first ever to take place in Africa. Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although there are some developments that run counter to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the international community must continue to make steady progress in order to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. In that connection, Japan regrets that the final document of 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was not adopted. Notwithstanding that fact, Japan would like to stress that the NPT regime has played an extremely important role in maintaining peace and stability in the international community, and that role remains unchanged even today. We must also not forget that there were many useful discussions on the main issues of the Review Conference, and Japan deems it important to further develop what was discussed during the Conference. In that context, Japan will submit to the General Assembly at its seventieth session a new draft resolution on the total elimination of nuclear weapons, on the basis of the discussions held at the last Review Conference. The topic of human rights is one of the three pillars of the United Nations and is a matter of humanity and dignity. In the implementation of the SDGs, we believe that the focus on human rights should be emphasized more. Japan aims to create a society in which women shine, not only in Japan but also all over the world. Japan places particular emphasis on the women and peace and security agenda, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). This year, Japan finalized its own action plan with regard to the participation and protection of women, based on resolution 1325 (2000). Japan is determined to further promote that agenda in collaboration with United Nations bodies. Despite the concerns reiterated by the international community in various forums, the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains unchanged. Grave human rights violations continue to be committed on a large scale. Therefore, Japan, together with the European Union, will once again sponsor a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at this session. We look forward to the continuous and active engagement of the Security Council on that issue. With regard to administrative and budgetary issues, during the main session the Fifth Committee will address both the scale of assessments and the budget proposal for the 2016-2017 biennium. In order to ensure budgetary discipline and the United Nations ability to deliver its mandate, Japan will carefully analyse and judge the appropriateness and affordability of the proposed programme budget. Japan requests that the Secretariat take a fresh look at the needs of the Organization. Japan expresses its appreciation for the Secretary-General’s continuing and strong commitment to the better management of the Secretariat and United Nations facilities. Finally, I would like to conclude my statement today by assuring the Assembly that Japan will continue to work closely with the Secretary-General to ensure a more effective and efficient United Nations. To that end, I would like to add that Japan is determined and ready to serve as a new member of the Security Council beginning in January 2016, if elected by the Member States here in the Hall tomorrow.

The delegation of Belarus read with interest the Secretary- General’s report on the work of the Organization (A/70/1). We share the report’s overall assessments of the international situation, which were highlighted by many speakers during the general debate at this seventieth session. Belarus notes with satisfaction the efforts of the Organization on areas of priority for our country: disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and international security; the fight against human trafficking; establishing an energy agenda for the Organization; the problems of middle-income countries; and advancing the interests of youth. We note the positive changes in the working methods of the Secretariat on such topics as the rule of law and the responsibility to protect. We believe that it is necessary to continue work on those issues on the basis of open consultations with Member States. In spite of certain successes we have seen in the Organization’s activities, we believe that it is necessary to pay attention to the need for further improvements in its work. Belarus continues to express its concern about the format for the implementation of the Rights Up Front initiative. We oppose authorizing the international civil service to carry out human rights monitoring functions on risk identification without the agreement of the States concerned, or placing excessive emphasis on the human rights aspect of United Nations country programmes. We note with concern the Secreatariat’s unilateral and non-transparent promotion of confrontational ideas on which Member States have not agreed and that may even contradict their legislation and their cultural, religious and other foundations. Even if such approaches are set out in the internal documents of the Secretariat, they undermine trust in the Organization and are not coducive to unity among Member States. We can find an example of that in the controversial discussion in March on the issue of defining the family status of Secretariat staff for the payment of benefits. The issue of improving the situation with regard to ensuring geographical balance in the Secretariat is still relevant, first and foremost when it comes to appointing senior officials. We must not forget that the goal is not to entrench one’s representatives and hold on to posts, but to ensure as broad a range of views and diversity of approaches and mindsets within the Secretariat. Against the backdrop of the processes of revitalizing the General Assembly and reforming the Security Council, Belarus must note the existence of systemic problems in the interaction between permanent representatives and the Secretariat. That has made it necessary for the Non-Aligned Movement to advance an initiative on holding an informal dialogue on the issue under the aegis of the President of the Assembly at this session. We hope that the outcome of the dialogue will be duly accepted by the Secretary- General and his staff. We also call for greater attention to issues concerning the everyday operation of the Organization and further improving the forms and methods of the Secretariat’s work. Given the challenges and objectives facing the Organization, that may seem insignificant, but it is precisely such details that determine how the context and course of our work will affect the overall results.

We would like to thank the Secretary-General for submitting his report on the work of the Organization (A/70/1) and for his leadership as the helm of the Organization. The consideration of this item coincides with the commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, an ideal occasion to reflect on the achievements and challenges beyond the past 12 months. We agree with the Secretary-General that “through seven decades of profound turbulence and change, the vision articulated in the Charter of the United Nations has stood the test of time, even as the world has become transformed beyond anything our founders imagined” (A/70/1, para. 1). International peace and security are not feasible without sustainable, equitable and inclusive development that benefits all individuals and all peoples. The purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law have continued to serve as a fundamental guide for international relations. However, they have been violated by the conduct of certain States that resort to the use and threat of force and serious actions against the sovereignty of other nations, including through the application of unilateral coercive measures. Just a few days ago, world leaders adopted a new development agenda with goals for the next 15 years. We are beginning the most difficult phase — to make a reality of the agreements embodied in that agenda. It will not be easy. It will depend upon political will, availability of and access to economic and financial resources, and international solidarity and cooperation, bearing very much in mind the asymmetries and disparities in development among nations. Nor will it be possible to fulfil the new sustainable development agendaby a[pplying coercive or unilateral measures or economic, commercial and financial blockades, nor by subjugating entire peoples to colonialism or the rigours of foreign occupation. The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Paris at the end of the year, will again test the capacity of humankind to ensure its own survival and that of other species living on our planet. Our future depends on making crucial changes to the current patterns of production and consumption, which reflect selfishness and the irrationality guiding neoliberal capitalism. The terrible threat of destruction through the use of nuclear weapons continues to be an unresolved problem. Its solution will also determine the survival of human beings. The only way to save humankind from the terrible impact of nuclear weapons is their complete prohibition and total elimination. Cuba is firmly committed to the international efforts to achieve that priority objective. Sadly, the ninth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons concluded without any concrete agreements, thus accentuating the shortcomings of the international legal regime to solve the challenge posed by nuclear weapons. New ideas and approaches are needed, and we hope that Member States will succeed in speedily breaking the inertia in the disarmament machinery of the United Nations. Cuba rejects the existence of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction and firmly condemns the use of such weapons. Consolidating multilateralism  and, in that context, strengthening and implementing the provisions of the respective conventions against biological and chemical weapons are also priorities for Cuba. During the period covered by the Secretary- General’s report discussions continued on one of the crucial components of the transformation of the Organization: the reform of the Security Council. The establishment of a genuinely fair, democratic and equitable new international order remains an illusion. The democratization of the Security Council based on a radical reform remains a pending task. We need a more democratic and effective United Nations, one whose organs respect their separate mandates and with a revitalized, strengthened General Assembly at its centre that is fully able to exercise the functions assigned it by the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council should fulfil its obligation to promote a negotiated settlement to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, set a definitive datae for the end of that occupation and make a reality of the will of the international community with regard to the peaceful coexistence of two independent States. Cuba reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and its firm, decisive support for all actions that will lead to recognition of the State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as to the right of the State of Palestine to become a full Member of the Organization. The new information and communication technologies are tools created by human beings that hold immense potential for their well-being and development, if they are used for peaceful ends and noble goals. Closer international cooperation is needed to combat the harmful use of the Internet, in particular cyberterrorism, cybercrime, xenophobia and racism, among other scourges. At the same time, it is essential to respect sovereignty in cyberspace and to reject hegemony in that regard. The militarization of cyberspace is unacceptable, as is the covert and illegal use of information and communication technologies to attack other States. Cuba immediately answered the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Director of the World Health Organization to address the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, confirming the validity of the principles of solidarity and internationalism that the Cuban Revolution has practised since its own triumph. Cuba is honoured to belong to a region — Latin America and the Caribbean — that moves in the vanguard of promoting peace and the peaceful resolution of disputes, having been proclaimed by its leaders as a zone of peace during the second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, held in Havana. To conclude, I support the words of President Raúl Castro Ruz, taken from his address to the Assembly at the end of September: “Cuba is celebrating with profound commitment the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations. Despite the efforts that have been made throughout those years, not enough has been done to save present and future generations from the scourge of war and to protect their right to sustainable development without exclusions. The United Nations should be defended from unilateralism and should be deeply reformed to democratize it and bring it closer to the peoples.” (A/70/PV.14, p. 6)

Let me start by thanking the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the Organization (A/70/1). Seventy years after the establishment of the Organization, the vision of its founders set out in the Charter of the United Nations is still the beacon for our collective efforts to achieve the goals of the United Nations. In the course of those 70 years, so many things have changed, but not the aspirations of “We the peoples of the United Nations”, who want to live together in peace and who have faith in fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of every human being. Today more than ever, we need to achieve the purposes of the Organization and to respect and reaffirm its principles. The world today is full of perils and hopes. The ideals of the Charter have never been so within reach, yet at the same time the challenges to them have never been so grave. Through our collective endeavours, we have achieved a lot, but much more remains to be done. The past year provides a typical example of the history of the Organization, a year of great achievements and big disappointments. On the one hand, the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) was finalized and the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action between Iran and the P5+1 was concluded. On the other hand, the people of Palestine still live under occupation, while many people in our region, from Syria to Yemen, are living under miserable conditions, and the brutality of extremist groups like Daesh, the Al-Nusra Front and Boko Haram continue. Let me briefly reflect on some of the main areas of the activity of the Organization. In the field of international peace and security, the successful conclusion of negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the P5+1 countries, which resulted in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, endorsed by the Security Council, proved that, with seriousness, good faith and a win-win approach, diplomacy can unlock even one of the most complex issues. We believe that the deal not only transforms the dynamics of interaction between my country and the international community, but that it also has important positive ramifications for the entire region and can help facilitate more cooperation in various fields, from security to development to the environment. The Islamic Republic of Iran is consistent and sincere in its call to establish in our region a platform for dialogue, which should be conducted on the basis of common goals and principles as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, namely, respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all countries, non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries, the peaceful settlement of disputes, refraining from the threat of or the use of force, the promotion of peace and stability, and the achievement of progress and prosperity for all. The Islamic Republic of Iran underlines the imperative of the total elimination of nuclear weapons as a requirement for international security and an obligation under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weaopns (NPT), which is long overdue. We regret that as a result of the opposition of a small minority, the 2015 NPT Review Conference could not achieve its objectives. We are grateful to Member States for their support, which enableed the Assembly to adopt by consensus resolution 68/127, entitled “A world against violence and violent extremism”. As the current situation and the escalation of violent extremism and terrorism in our region attest to the pertinence of that resolution and the idea behind it, we need to revisit that resolution during this session. We earnestly await the draft comprehensive plan of action on combating violent extremism that the Secretary-General is to present to the Assembly in the coming months. We believe that the issue of development should always enjoy priority on the agenda of the Organization. Let me commend all those involved in the process to finalize the outcome document entitled “Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (resolution 70/1), which our leaders adopted two weeks ago in this organ. As the Agenda has been adopted, our undertakings can begin. The challenges ahead of us should be met collectively, in a resolute and coordinated manner. Implementing the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals demands more inclusive and non-discriminatory provisions, particularly regarding the financing and transfer of technology and associated know-how for moving towards a truly global partnership. The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to engaging constructively in the implementation of the Agenda at all levels, and in that regard we welcome cooperation with the public and private sectors. The situation in our region shows how our challenges in the globalized world are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Our region is not only facing dire climate conditions due to climate change, but is also grappling with the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism. While terrorists damage the environment, they also force sustainable development objectives from the agendas being pursued by countries, forcing them to spend their national resources on fighting insecurity. We are extremely concerned about the situation in parts of the region, especially Syria, Yemen and Libya, which has inflicted untold misery upon the people and enabled the extremists to continue their savagery. The United Nations system should assume a more active role and do everything in its power to find peaceful solutions to those situations and to end those tragedies. Before concluding, let me reiterate the relevance of the principles on which the Organization was founded. The sovereign equality of all Member States, the peaceful settlement of international disputes and refraining from the threat or use of force in international relations are cornerstones upon which the Organization was built and continues to function. The Islamic Republic of Iran, reiterating its unwavering support for the work of the United Nations based on its Charter, is ready to engage with all Member States to further the United Nations goals and collectively tackle the challenges facing humankind as a whole.

We have heard the last speaker on the debate on this item. Several representatives have asked to speak in exercise of the right of reply. May I remind members that statements in exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to 5 minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I take the floor in exercise of our right of reply in respose to a reference made by the representative of Pakistan to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is, has always been and will remain an integral part of India. It is all the more ironical that those comments should come from a country that continues to illegally occupy part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Those references are entirely out of context and constitute a clear interference in the internal affairs of India. Therefore, we reject them in their entirety. It is also a matter of deep regret that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire on a number of occasions in the past several weeks, leading to the loss of civilian lives on the Indian side. Indian armed forces and paramilitary forces have responded to those provocations. We would like to remind the delegation of Pakistan of what the honourable Minister for External Affairs of India said during her address to the General Assembly on 1 October. “None of us can accept that terrorism is a legitimate instrument of statecraft. The world shared our outrage at the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which citizens of many nations were helplessly butchered. That the mastermind behind the attack is walking free is an affront to the entire international community. Not only have past assurances in this regard not been honoured, but new cross-border terrorist attacks have taken place recently, and two terrorists from across the border have been captured alive. We all know that these attacks are meant to destabilize India and legitimize Pakistan’s illegal occupation of parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and its claim to the rest of it.” (A/70/PV.22, p. 44). The honourable Minister for External Affairs of India then added, “Let me use this occasion to spell out our approach clearly. India remains open to dialogue but finds talks and terrorism to be incompatible ... We do not need four points. We need just one — give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk ... That was precisely what was discussed and decided by the two Prime Ministers in Ufa this July. Let us hold talks, at the level of national security advisers, on all issues connected to terrorism and arrange an early meeting of our Directors-General of Military Operations to address the situation on the border. If the response is serious and credible, India is prepared to address all outstanding issues through bilateral dialogue.” (ibid.)

I would like to respond to the statement made by the representative of Japan. I will try to be brief because we have raised the issue of Japan on other occasions throughout this session. This year, we celebrate 70 years since the founding of the United Nations. This is a moment to reflect on the peace and security issues facing the world. The United Nations was created to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, but that scourge of war still lingers after 70 years and has not been completely eliminated. The sufferings and miseries of all sorts inflicted upon the Korean nation and other Asian peoples by Japanese militarism, with its illegal and military occupations, remain vivid in the people’s memories. During the occupation of Korea alone, Japan committed such crimes against humanity as forcing tens of thousands of Korean women into what is called military sexual slavery, exploiting them by inflicting all kinds of inhuman pain and humiliation. As demonstrated by the statement made by the Japanese Prime Minister in August, on the occasion of the defeat of Japanese militarism, Japan still denies its past crimes of aggression, even after 70 years. This is a very important moment to reflect upon that case. The denial by any country of its past crimes means that it will repeat the same crimes. Currently, we are seeing an open attempt to revive militarism in the recent moves of the Japanese political authorities. Those are very dangerous moves that should concern the international community. On this occasion, my delegation once again strongly urges Japan this year, which marks the seventieth year of the victory of the Second World War, to thoroughly repudiate its past crimes inflicted upon humanity.

I am taking the floor to exercise my right of reply with regard to the remarks just made by the representative of India. The Indian representative has talked about the importance of dialogue. I want to remind him that it was not Pakistan that stopped the dialogue process; it was India that cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan scheduled for August 2014. With regard to Kashmir, no matter what the Indian representative says, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved in accordance with Security Council resolutions. With regard to terrorism, let me point out that Pakistan itself is the biggest victim of terrorism planted on its soil, some of it emanating from our immediate neighbourhood. Terrorism is a common threat, and we must all work together to eliminate it. India’s insistence on limiting the talks to a one-point agenda proves that it is neither interested in nor serious about engaging in a genuine dialogue. Using the issue of terrorism, India has not only managed to stall the bilateral dialogue but also vitiated the overall atmosphere between the two countries. Pakistan’s commitment and its role and sacrifice in the fight against terrorism, including the success of our ongoing counter-terrorism operations, have been acknowledged and praised by the entire international community. India has also failed to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism against innocent civilians in the Samjhauta Express bombing. That raises serious doubts about India’s willingness to convict its nationals involved in terror incidents against Muslims.

My delegation would like to exercise its right of reply in response to the statement made by the representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I attentively listened to that statement. Throughout the 70 years since the end of the Second World War, the Japanese people have established a free and democratic nation that respects human rights and the rule of law. As a peace-loving nation, Japan has contributed to the peace and prosperity of the Asia- Pacific region. Japan will continue to walk the path of a peace-loving nation and to further contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world. Such a position, as articulated by previous Cabinets, will remain unshakeable. This year, in a Cabinet decision, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a statement on 14 August on the seventieth anniversary of the end of the war. In his statement, the Prime Minister articulated that Japan has repeatedly expressed its feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apologies for its actions during the Second World War. He clearly stated that the positions articulated by previous Cabinet decisions will remain unshakeable. In the same statement, the Prime Minister also stated that we must never forget that there were women behind the battlefields whose honour and dignity were severely injured during the wars in the twentieth century, and we have engraved that past into our hearts.

I listened very carefully to what the representative of Japan said. History itself cannot be denied and cannot be erased. All of what he said just now serves as camouflage and a cover-up designed in an attempt to hide the heinous crimes that were committed against humanity. That crimes were committed against humanity during the Second World War is an historical fact that has not yet been clearly or completely eliminated. That is why the Korean nations and other Asian nations still talk about them. We urge the Japanese authorities to strongly heed what the international community has called for.

I again attentively listened to the statement by the representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I refrain from entering into a detailed rebuttal to that statement, but I just want to stress that the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a matter of grave concern to the international community. That is why many resolutions on that issue have been adopted by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. The meeting at which the Security Council took up the same issue last December is still fresh in our minds. Accordingly, I would like to stress again that the matter of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is an ongoing matter and not a historical one.

May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization contained in document A/70/1?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of item 109.