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STATEMENT AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON THE AGENDA ITEM: NEW YORK, 25 JUNE 2007
At the outset, allow me to express my appreciation to the delegation of Belgium for organizing this timely meeting on the issue of natural resources and conflict. My delegation is certain that under the able stewardship of Minister Karel de Gucht, the Council will arrive at a successful outcome. Mr. President, Natural resource is a telamon of world economy. They provide the foundations of economic development and can lead to great wealth. Stability and security will simultaneously arise. Natural resources enable countries to build a solid foundation for future generations to reap the benefit of today’s wise decisions. Natural resources are a gift and a source of blessing to any given country. They also play an important role in fuelling the global economy. In today’s world, a nation might be in possession
of vast quantities of a certain natural resource. However, it requires
human ingenuity to turn such a resource into a valuable commodity.
Human ingenuity can bring marvel but it also caused many calamities
in the past, and will undoubtedly do so in the future. The fact that
this issue is being discussed in this august body is acknowledgment
of the potential of natural resources for both progresses and problems. As has been explained by others, the failure to implement principles and policies of good governance can be a factor in fuelling armed conflicts. Proper management of natural resources is certainly one way to address this issue, as is investment in the design and application of sustainable economic development policy. Domestic and foreign companies in the extraction industry can be encouraged in implementing the principles of corporate social responsibility My delegation fully subscribes to the view that countries facing difficulty in the management of their natural resources should invest more effort in strengthening the rule of law. On our part, Indonesia is continuously trying to improve its legal system and institutions of law enforcement. We can list a number of policies and strategies to increase our capacity to withstand internal shocks. However, that alone would be insufficient. To secure stability, a country equally has to have the capacity to withstand external shocks. And, external shocks are beyond the capacity of many UN member-states to address individually. In our view, it is imperative that external factors are taken into account when we discuss the link between armed conflicts and natural resources. The extraction of natural resources can only materialize if it meets several criteria which include the possession of high technology and extensive capital, and the existence of a reliable and functioning market. The latter is sometimes overlooked. Mr. President, To my delegation, one of the key issues in discussing this issue is the role of the international market and its participants. A particular type of natural resource would neither attract attention nor incite fierce competition if it does not have considerable value or the expectation that it would become valuable. It can be in terms of strategic value or financial value. In a world marked by inter-dependence and inter-connectivity at the regional and global levels, one action in some part of the globe would have a direct impact on another part of the world. The extraction of a particular natural resource would have an impact elsewhere. A surge of demand in some part of the world would increase pressure to find it at all costs. While acknowledging the responsibility of the source country, destination or transit countries have also a major role to play. They might and could be a source of armed conflict. All of us have shared responsibility to prevent and act against acts that fuel armed conflicts. To emphasize heavily the responsibility of the source country without also highlighting the responsibility of transit and destination countries would prevent us from having a profound discussion. It is this trinity that we must bear in mind. Let me underline that natural resources would fail to bring benefit to anyone, if such commodity cannot reach the market. Sellers, buyers, and users thus have equal responsibility in preventing natural resources from being used to fuel armed conflicts. Mr. President, Past practices of violent and blatant competition to possess natural resources might have ceased to exist. Many had gone to the extreme to satisfy their insatiable appetite for valuable natural resources and left countries and nations in destitute. None can guarantee that these practices will not be repeated somewhere or somehow. History does not repeat itself, but it simply rhymes. What differentiates one era from another is that there are different players, and different contexts. Nevertheless, the aim is still similar and shaped
by different market factors. Gold and black gold are some of the most
valuable commodities in our lifetime. In years to come, other energy
sensitive commodity would have taken their place and will drive competition
that leads to armed conflicts. From our perspective, it is clear that the fierce competition in possession of valuable natural resources could fuel armed conflicts. It is not and cannot be the natural resource as such. Thus, for the Council to address this issue, it requires an understanding that the Council can effectively address this issue by acknowledging that its vast power has limitations. It can impose sanctions and more. It can authorize military actions but that would not solve the underlying problems. The Council might be tempted to be involved in the area of prevention. The Charter has purposely designed several institutions to tackle successive phases of conflict. I can cite several organizations under the UN family that are well-armed in the area of conflict prevention. UNDP and UNODC have been tirelessly working to promote good governance in many developing countries. They can enormously contribute to the maintenance of peace and security. They can also work in raising the awareness of relevant stakeholders in the developed countries about the impact of their actions and policies in fuelling violent conflicts. Moreover, the Peace Building Commission can also address issues related to post-conflict situation. Hence, the United Nations is not lacking in the area of proper tools to address the many faces and stages of armed conflicts. Before concluding my remarks, my delegation would suggest that the Security Council and the General Assembly to discuss ways and means of organizing jointly an international conference on this important issue. A joint conference organized by these two vital bodies would send a clear and unambiguous signal of the commitment of the two bodies to address this issue in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. Thank you, Mr. President.
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